Custom Frames for John Miller Original Engravings, c. 1770s

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We return this week to the topic of antique botanical art – original, hand-colored engravings actually – completed in England in 1770, ’73, and ’76  by German-born draughtsman and engraver, John Miller. Miller dedicated much of his career as an engraver to the “Cultivation of his favorite Science”, producing artistically excellent renderings of plants and insects under the guidance of scientific and academic contemporaries such as Dr. Gowan Knight of the British Museum. One of his later volumes contains a letter of encouragement from Dr. Carolus Linnaeus, a contemporary who framed the principles and rules of taxonomy in the classification system of plants and animals still used today.

Our featured items are attractive examples of botanical drawing with details for classification under the Linnaean system. To help with continued longevity, as always, the artwork was mounted on archival materials. In this case 100% cotton board buffered with calcium carbonate that helps prevent yellowing by counteracting acidity and acidic by-products found in wood pulp materials. Ruled lines known as French Matting, common during the time period, were applied by hand by our own David Putnam. To complete the design, all was placed behind optically treated glass within a beautiful metal-leaf frame suitable for the artwork, the period, and the budget. Thank you!

Interesting artwork of your own waiting for attention? We’d love to help. Please contact us today, or stop by our Claremont NH shop with your art – we’d love to see you! (Appointments appreciated!)

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