A truly extraordinary example of stipple engraving from the heyday of botanical illustration, featuring the unique structure of the Wood Lily, also known as the Toadshade or Trillium Sessile. This stipple engraving is done by the great botanical illustrator, Pierre-Joseph Redouté, famous for his botanical accuracy and artistic excellence. In this image, the unique traits of this plant are beautifully captured: the three large mottled green leaves that provide support for one stalkless (sessile) dark maroon-colored flower situated right at the center.The rhizome and root system of this plant are depicted in exquisite detail and serve as the basis for 19th-century botanical illustration that requires complete accuracy in botanical depiction. This image was created using the technique of stipple engraving perfected by Redouté to give a subtle effect of coloration, then hand-colored with great skill.
