Reinette Franse and Goud-Pepping, Antique Russet Apple Plate, 1790

An original hand-colored copper engraving of nine named apple varieties, the reinettes and russets of the volume, each lettered with its name and ripening months. The plate carries Reinette grise or Grauwe Ranet, Reinette jeaune or Geele Reinet, Citron d'Hyver, Reinette non pareil, Reinette van Aizema, Fenouillet or Anys- of Venkel-Appel, Ranet van Sorgvlied, Reinette Franse and Peppin d'Or or Goud-Pepping. Nearly all come in during January and February, the aristocrats of the Dutch winter store. Knoop drew every one from the fruit itself, and the engraved hatching renders the dry netted skin of a true reinette with real understanding. Over it the hand coloring works in ochres, olive and dull gold, varying in density across each apple and overlapping the engraved outline where the brush ran on.

Knoop's pomology appeared at Amsterdam and Dordrecht in 1790 from the presses of Allart, Holtrop, de Leeuw and Krap, carrying a preface by Johannes Florentius Martinet. The plates had first been cut for the Leeuwarden editions of 1758 and 1763 and were printed again here from the same coppers. Johann Hermann Knoop drew the fruit from life in the stadtholder's garden at Leeuwarden. The technique is copper engraving with original hand coloring, and the brushwork crosses the engraved outline in places, which is the plain evidence that the color was laid on by hand and not printed.

Reinettes were the connoisseur's apples of the eighteenth century, eaten late in winter when their flavor had concentrated, and a plate that names nine of them together is a serious pomological document. Two of the names, Reinette van Aizema and Ranet van Sorgvlied, record Dutch country estates where the varieties were raised, so the sheet is also a small piece of garden history. The restrained palette of gold, ochre and gray green makes this one of the most sophisticated plates in the book to live with, and it holds its own framed above a desk or in a library where the fine engraved detail can be examined at close range.

Light uneven toning, browner towards the edges. Marked handling soiling along the bottom and top edges. Scattered light foxing in the margin. All four corners complete.

This is an original antique plate, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.