Botanical watercolors from the 18th century by watercolorist Georg Dionysius Ehret who was born in Germany but worked in Britain. Living from 1708 to 1770, he was a botanist and entomologist. All of these being taken from a current Sotheby’s auction catalogue.

“The South American ‘candle’ Cactus.” 18th c. German/British. Watercolor and bodycolor, heighted with gum arabic on vellum. Signed “G. D. Ehret, P.” on the lower right Inscribed “CEREUS; erectus altissimus / syrinamenssis. Par. Pat.” on the lower left. Image © 2021 Sothebyz. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/a-fine-line-master-works-on-paper-from-five-centuries/the-south-american-candle-cactus
“The Amaryllis.” 1761. German/British. Watercolor and bodycolor on vellum. Signed “G.D. Ehret. pinxit. 1761, AMARYLLIS Linn. / Lilic-Narcissus Scillae folus / flore niveo linea purpurea striato. Ehret / Tab.5.f2  on the lower right. Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/a-fine-line-master-works-on-paper-from-five-centuries/the-amaryllis
“The Passion Flower.” 18th c. German/British. Watercolor and bodycolor on watermarked laid paper. Inscribed ” Passiflora holosericea” on the lower left. Further inscribed ” Granadilla folio hastato holosericeo, petalis candicantibus fimbrus ex purpureo & luteo varus, Martin / Linn: Sp: Pl: 958” at the upper cfenter. Numbered 27 at the lower center. Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/a-fine-line-master-works-on-paper-from-five-centuries/the-passion-flower
The White Lily.” 18th c. German/British. Watercolor and bodycolor, heightened witih gum arabic on laid paper. Inscribed ” Prinum. americanum. / Lilio – Asphodelus Americanus, Semper-virens maximus, polyananthos albus / Com. Rar. Pl. i4. / Linn: Sp: Pl: 292” on the ;lower left. Numbered 7 at the lower center. Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/a-fine-line-master-works-on-paper-from-five-centuries/the-white-lily

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