Johann Leypoldt's "Tomatoes"

Johann Leypoldt's "Tomatoes"

Tomatoes

Depicted is John Leypoldt's smooth-cut copper engraving of tomatoes growing on a vine, which was reprinted by the Library of Congress. The image was likely originally drawn and colored by Basilius Besler, for whom Leypoldt worked as an engraver. The image was published as Plate 320 in Hortus Eystettensis, which included images of all of the plants in the garden of Konrad, bishop-prince of Eichstatt. Konrad served as the patron of both the garden and the botanical guide, hiring apothecary and botanist Besler to compile the work. The plates ranged in size from 21.25 to 21.5 inches in length by 16 to 18.5 inches in height. The engraving was a botanical image, which would have accompanied text describing the plant's physical features and supposed medicinal qualities. Such a guide would have aided in the identification of various types of plants.

Johann Leypoldt

Hortus Eystettensis

Reprinted with permission of Library of Congress in The Besler florilegium : plants of the four seasons / introduction and commentaries on the plates by Gérard G. Aymonin ; foreword by Pierre Gascar ; translated from the French by Eileen Finletter and Jean Ayer (New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 1989).

Printed by Konrad Bauer at Altdorf

Commissioned by Konrad, bishop-prince of Eichstatt

1613

Melanie Sheehan

Library of Congress

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Smooth-cut engraved copper plate

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Smooth-cut engraved copper plate

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