Iris Lusitanica Portuguese Flag Spanish iris Iris xiphium, engraved and hand-coloured plate from Curtis's Botanical Magazine, 1803 art print poster canvas gift

Iris Lusitanica Portuguese Flag Spanish iris Iris xiphium - an iconic engraved and hand-coloured Georgian illustration (plate N 679) from Curtis's Botanical Magazine published in 1803, in London, England.

Curtis's Botanical Magazine or Flower-Garden Displayed is a famous British illustrated publication first began in 1787, and the longest running botanical magazine in the world. It was started by William Curtis as an illustrated gardening and botanical journal few years after he published another well known work "Flora Londinensis". The first issue was illustrated by artists James Sowerby, Sydenham Edwards and others, and the hand-colouring of all plates in approximately 3000 copies was done by up to thirty people. The Curtis's Botanical Magazine has been published continuously for over two hundred years and became the greatest source of high quality botanical illustrations and the most cited botanical work.

William Curtis (1746 - 1799) was an English botanist and entomologist. He was born in Alton, Hampshire. Curtis began his career as an apothecary and soon turned his attention to natural history. From the age of 24 he gave lectures at Chelsea Physic Garden, and at 25 published an "Instructions for collecting and preserving insects; particularly moths and butterflies". From 1777 to 1798 he published 6 volumes of "Flora Londinensis", a pioneering work on urban wildlife which was not selling well however. William Curtis became well known and financially successful after starting Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1787.

This poster is a high quality "giclée" reproduction of a restored antique original, custom-printed on Standard Single-weight Matt Coated art paper 140gsm or  Heavyweight Matt Coated art paper 230gsm (more of a thin card density), or superb Epson Matt Canvas 320gsm, according to your choice. We use the latest UltraChromeHDX pigment inks which guarantee 60 years of colour  permanence (up to 200 years fade-proof for colour prints).  This poster is suitable for mounting and framing, as well as direct display on a wall.