Pomona Britannica: No. 82 - Pears - George Brookshaw

A detailed botanical study of three pears from George Brookshaw's 1812 collection, Pomona Britannica, featuring precise hand-coloured aquatint work.

George Brookshaw was a cabinet maker and painter who turned his attention to botanical illustration during the early nineteenth century. This print originates from his major work, Pomona Britannica, published in 1812. The collection documents the various fruits grown in the royal gardens at Kensington and other prominent estates of the period.

This specific plate depicts three varieties of pears, suspended from their branches. The composition is set against a dark, near-black background, a technique Brookshaw employed to draw attention to the texture and colour of the fruit. The use of aquatint and stipple engraving allows for subtle gradations in tone, capturing the mottled skin of the pears and the delicate veining of the leaves. The artist provides a precise rendering of the fruit, reflecting the scientific interest in pomology that occupied many horticulturists of the era.

Brookshaw’s approach combines the accuracy required for botanical study with a decorative sensibility. The arrangement of the fruit appears natural, yet the stark contrast between the subjects and the void of the background gives the work a graphic quality. The print is a representative example of the high standards of British colour printing during the Regency period. It demonstrates the technical skill involved in layering multiple plates to achieve the depth of colour seen in the russet, yellow, and green skins of the pears. The work remains a reference for those interested in the history of fruit cultivation and the development of printmaking techniques in the United Kingdom.