Camellia Jenny - A. Verschaffelt 1848-60

📜 Description
Botanical chromolithograph titled “Camellia Jenny”, produced in Ghent between 1848 and 1860 by A. Verschaffelt as part of the publication “Nouvelle Iconographie des Camellias”, depicting a single camellia specimen. The composition features a large fully open central flower, with white petals arranged in concentric layers and subtle pink accents, accompanied by broad glossy green leaves, a bud, and a slender stem. The image follows a scientific and classificatory approach, isolating the subject against a neutral background to highlight the structure of the bloom and the characteristics of the foliage. The lower inscription identifies the variety “Camellia Jenny”, while the captions “A. Verschaffelt del. et imp.” and “G. Severeyns lith. et imp.” document respectively the roles of author-publisher and lithographer. The plate belongs to the 19th-century tradition of botanical illustration dedicated to camellias, serving both documentary and collecting purposes. Chromolithography allows for precise tonal transitions and a clear visual reading of the represented variety.

📚 Historical-artistic note
Ambroise Verschaffelt was a key figure in 19th-century Belgian horticulture and botanical publishing, active in Ghent, an important European center for the cultivation and dissemination of ornamental plants. The “Nouvelle Iconographie des Camellias” systematically documents numerous camellia varieties through illustrated plates intended for botanical study and collectors. The lithographic work of G. Severeyns translates the botanical drawing into a clear and accurate period print, consistent with the high editorial standards of the publication.

🧾 Technical sheet
Type: botanical plate / chromolithograph
Author / Maker: A. Verschaffelt
Designer / Engraver: A. Verschaffelt; G. Severeyns
Publisher / Printer: A. Verschaffelt, Ghent
Place: Ghent
Period: 1848–1860
Material: paper
Technique: chromolithography
Subject / Title: “Camellia Jenny”
Edition: from “Nouvelle Iconographie des Camellias”
Dimensions: sheet 18 × 26 cm
Marks / Signatures / Inscriptions: title “Camellia Jenny”; inscriptions “A. Verschaffelt del. et imp.” and “G. Severeyns lith. et imp.”

🔍 Condition Report
Very good overall condition. Paper well preserved, chromolithographic impression sharp with stable colors; minor age-related signs consistent with the period.