Papaya study, combining scientific accuracy and a sophisticated aesthetic sense with artistic arrangement highlighting shape, color, and textural features. The creative composition emphasizes the appearance of the parts comprising papaya trees, including the fruits themselves. The papaya appears enlarged in the lower portion of the illustration, along with a cross-section. Two papaya trees accompany the fruits along with enlarged details of fruit buds, flowers, and leaves.

This print is among 1200 plates from the set of a broad variety of botanicals by Pierre Joseph Buchoz (also spelled Buc'hoz), an extremely prolific author of botanical books in the latter half of the 18th century. Buchoz produced over 300 volumes of natural science books, with a particular emphasis on botany. Born in Metz, he was physician to the King of Poland by age 28, but he left his post to pursue his interest in botany.

Certain critics were dismissive of Buchoz as a scientist and original artist, pointing to the questionable science, inaccurate descriptions and liberal borrowings from other authors scattered through his works. The composition and quality of his prints, however, are comparable to best natural history works of the same period. Indeed, Buchoz was a member of academies in France and Europe and his Histoire Universelle du Règne Végétal (1774-1780) earned the approval of the Academy of Science . Among his productions are also some charming and interesting plates. He published the first drawings of Chinese plants made by native artists and many of his other works show the stylistic influence of Asian art about 100 years before it took the Parisian art world by storm.

Condition: Generally very good with light overall toning and light edge wear from folio removal, as usual. Large folding plate, vertical folds, as issued, now professionally flattened.

References:

Blunt, Wilfred, rev. by Stearn, William T. The Art of Botanical Illustration. Woodbridge, Suffolk, England: Antique Collectors Club, 1994. pp. 175, 178-9.