Interpretation
In order to gain her physician husband’s release from debtor’s prison, Blackwell received support from the English Society of Apothecaries to produce an up-to-date herbal. She drew each plant from life, engraved the copper plates, and hand colored the printed images; her husband wrote the accompanying texts. This plate is of the white opium poppy, its properties presciently described on the previous page: “Opium is the greatest Anodine we have, easing pain, procuring sleep, . . . and is an excellent medicine in the hands of a wise man; and ought never to be prescribed by any other; many fatal accidents ensuing from the immoderate or unseasonable use of it.”
Information
- Title
- A curious herbal, containing five hundred cuts, of the most useful plants, which are now used in the practice of physick . . .
- Object Number
- L.2019.37.13
- Maker
- Elizabeth Blackwell
- Medium
- 2 volumes, includes numerous hand-colored engravings
- Dates
- London: 1739–51
- Dimensions
- height: 48 cm (18 7/8 in.)
- Credit Line
- Rare Book Division, Special Collections, Princeton University Library
- States of Health: Visualizing Illness and Healing (November 2, 2019 –Sunday, February 2, 2020)
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The Museum regularly researches its objects and their collecting histories, updating its records to reflect new information. We also strive to catalogue works of art using language that is consistent with how people, subjects, artists, and cultures describe themselves. As this effort is ongoing, the Museum’s records may be incomplete or contain terms that are no longer acceptable. We welcome your feedback, questions, and additional information that you feel may be useful to us. Email us at collectionsinfo@princeton.edu.
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