Prints and Principles

Most of the recent posts give details about individual prints and earlier posts discuss some of the subtle principles guiding artists in making images meaningful and memorable. For prints that are unsold, click "Items still available for sale" below. All other prints are no longer available. My contact email is oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com and my Instagram username is @printsandprinciples. I have created a separate blog to show my own work: https://printsandprinciplesjamesbrown.blogspot.com

Friday, 6 March 2026

Claude-Marie-François Dien, “Eucalyptus Globulus”, c. 1798, after Pierre-Joseph Redouté

Claude-Marie-François Dien (1787–1865)

Note: The plate is inscribed only with the name "Dien," so there is also the possibility that the printmaker may be Charles Dien the Elder (also known as Charles Dien père) (active ca. 1790–1830) or P. Dien (late 18th century). The Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki proposes the latter.

“Eucalyptus Globulus” (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.), circa 1798

Technical Details & Condition:

Engraving with etching on watermarked laid paper with full margins as issued. This botanical illustration depicts the flowering and fruiting stem, with floral segments of the eucalyptus commonly known as the Tasmanian Blue Gum or fever tree. The specimen was collected by botanist Jacques Labillardière during the d'Entrecasteaux expedition to Recherche Bay, Tasmania, in 1792.

The print follows the design by Pierre Joseph Redouté (1759–1840) and is plate 13 in Jacques-Julien Houtou de La Billardière’s “Relation du voyage à la recherche de La Pérouse…” (Account of the voyage in search of La Pérouse), published in Paris in 1799 and London in 1800. The depicted specimen and the index of its details, numbered on the plate, are discussed on page 165 of volume 1—see: https://archive.org/details/b28772994_0001/page/164/mode/2up. The plate was issued separately in the volume titled “List of the Plates,” vol. 1.

The impression is strong and faultlessly printed. Aside from a hole in the upper right margin, the sheet is in excellent condition with no other significant issues.

Dimensions:

Sheet: 53 x 35 cm
Platemark: 44.9 x 30.5 cm
Image borderline: 39.9 x 26.5 cm

Plate Lettering:

Above the image borderline at left: “Atlas du Voyage à la recherche de la Pérouse. N^o. 13.”
Inside the image borderline: indexing key features from “1” to “4”
Below the image borderline: (from left to right) “P.J. Redouté del.”, “EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS.”, “Dien Scripsit”

References:

Auckland Art Gallery: Toi o Tāmaki: https://www.aucklandartgallery.com/explore-art-and-ideas/artwork/3216/eucalyptus-globulus
Wellcome Collection: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/zeavx5pb
Wellcome Collection (Charles Dien): https://wellcomecollection.org/concepts/raaj5vy6 https://wellcomecollection.org/concepts/raaj5vy6
La Billardière’s publication: https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_F3RBAAAAcAAJ/page/n171/mode/2up
Gordon Morrison [et al.], “Capturing Flora: 300 years of Australian Botanical Art”, (Exhibition Catalogue), 2012, Art Gallery of Ballarat, pp. 52–55

Price & Shipping:

AU$288 (approximately US$202.55 / €174.29 / £151), including worldwide express shipping. Please note that import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you’re interested in this superb impression of a large and historically significant engraving that is the first example of this species to be published—please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless purchase.