Framed Allegorical Plate Honouring the Bust of Linnaeus
This framed allegorical plate is titled Aesculapius, Flora, Ceres and Cupid Honouring the Bust of Linnaeus. It depicts a classical scene set in a wooded landscape, in which figures present garlands and a wreath before a bust of the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus. The bust sits on a pedestal inscribed with the name LINNÆUS, and a cherub hovers above on a cloud, holding a wreath. The composition draws on mythological figures associated with healing, plant life and harvest, reflecting the era’s admiration for Linnaeus as the father of modern plant classification. The print is coloured and set within a black frame with gilt gesso mouldings and a cream mount.
Condition and Collector Interest
The print is housed behind glazing and presented in its original-looking ebonised frame with gilt decoration, which appears intact. Surface reflections are visible through the glass, and the condition of the sheet itself cannot be fully assessed from the image alone, so prospective buyers are encouraged to view the lot in person or request further details before bidding. Its subject combines classical allegory with a tribute to a figure central to natural history, which may appeal to collectors of botanical and scientific prints, decorative antiques, and admirers of neoclassical imagery.
