April - Twelve Months of Flowers
Hand-colored copperplate engraving on paper • Robert Furber (Conceived/Commissioned), Pieter Casteels (Painter), and Henry Fletcher (Engraver).
Style & Movement
English Baroque / Botanical Illustration. Characterized by realistic horticultural accuracy combined with a formal, decorative composition typical of the Georgian era.
Medium & Technique
Etching and engraving with hand-applied watercolor washes. The process uses intaglio printing to achieve fine linear detail, which is then hand-painted.
Creation Period
Original set published circa 1730; this example likely 18th to early 19th-century reproduction or original leaf.
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 16 x 12 inches (standard plate size); vertical portrait orientation.
Subject Description
A complex floral arrangement featuring seasonal blooms for the month of April. The flowers are numbered (30-38 visible in detail) including Yellow Dwarf Aloe, Single blew Anemone, and White Egyptian Holly Hock, resting on a stone plinth with a scroll-motif edge. Originally intended as a seed catalog for Furber's Kensington nursery.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good. The paper exhibits age-appropriate light toning. The watercolor pigments remain legible, though some fading is evident in the reds and yellows.
Estimated Market Value
$400 - $1,200 (Highly dependent on verifying original 1730 printing vs. 19th-century restrike).
Auction Estimate
$300 - $800
Provenance History
Likely part of a dispersed bound set or sold as an individual decorative print. Inscribed 'Engrav'd by H. Fletcher' at the bottom right, confirming its origin from the 1730 London series.
Art Historical Significance
One of the most famous botanical series in history, Furber's 'Twelve Months of Flowers' was a groundbreaking intersection of commercial floral cataloguing and high art, influencing interior design and botanical studies for centuries.
Notable Features
Includes a distinctive numbered legend in cursive script matching the numbers positioned next to each flower, a characteristic of the Furber subscription plates.
Condition Issues
Visible vertical line at the edge suggests a possible plate mark or framing hinge. Minor fading of organic lake pigments and slight acidity in paper stock.
Conservation Recommendations
Mount using acid-free, archival materials and UV-protective glazing. Keep in a climate-controlled environment away from direct sunlight to prevent further fading of the hand-coloring.