Emanuel Sweerts was a Dutch draughtsman and botanist known for his 1612 Frankfurt-am-Main publication of Florilegium Amplissimum et Selectissimum.
New plants came to Europe via merchant shipping at that time and became very popular with the population. Sweerts prepared his Florilegium as a guide to his available stock for the 1612 Frankfurt Fair. His attractively depicted bulbs sparked their popularity, leading to 6 editions of the work between 1612 and 1647 and a demand that would later result in the Tulip Fever. At the time of the fair, Sweerts was employed by Emperor Rudolf II as head of his gardens in Vienna.
His botanical engravings are still a highly sought-after collector’s item.
- Image: rare engraving of the Iris. Plate 40 from the book Florilegium Amplissimum et Selectissimum
- year: 1647
- quality: excellent
- signed: no
- image size: 34.3 x 21.5 cm | 13.5 x 8.5 in (h x w)
- sheet or frame size: 40.6 x 27.7 cm | 16 x 10.9 in (h x w)
