Pl. 25 by Jane Webb Loudon

Pl. 25 by Jane Webb Loudon

C. 1848

Hand Colored Lithograph

Published in 1848, this hand-colored lithograph is designated as Pl. 25 from Jane Webb Loudon’s celebrated work, The Ladies' Flower-Garden of Ornamental Annuals. Featuring a vibrant spray of Anagallis and Nolana varieties, including Anagallis monelli var. lilacina, Anagallis latifolia, Nolana paradoxa, Nolana atriplicifolia, and Nolana prostrata, the print captures their striking trumpets and star-shaped blooms in deep cobalt blue, soft violet, and gentle blush pink. In Victorian floriography, Anagallis (commonly known as pimpernel) represented changeability and precursor, while Nolana carried associations of modest charm and quiet constancy. The composition displays trailing stems, rich green leaves, and delicate yellow-centered flowers, all brought to life through precise lithographic linework and rich, hand-applied watercolor washes.

Created by Jane Webb Loudon (1807–1858), a pioneering English author and botanical illustrator, this plate exemplifies the 19th-century movement to demystify natural science for everyday audiences. Orphaned as a teenager, Loudon initially gained fame with her groundbreaking 1827 science fiction novel The Mummy!, before turning her sharp intellect to botany alongside her husband, landscape architect John Loudon. Through The Ladies' Flower-Garden, Loudon popularized colorful chromolithography and visual guides tailored specifically for women who were historically excluded from formal scientific institutions. Her work transformed complex scientific instruction into accessible, elegant art, offering Victorian women both a tool for self-education and a medium for coded emotional communication through the popular language of flowers (floriography).

Dimensions: H 11”x 8 ½”W

Condition: Slight foxing