Pomona Britannica; or
A collection of the Most Esteemed Fruits at Present Cultivated in this Country
1812, 1817
George Brookshaw retired as a cabinet maker to become a successful teacher, artist and publisher of botanical subjects. He initially published his botanical studies in parts, and then as a complete work in 1812. Brookshaw’s magnus opus, Pomona Britannica, was ten years in the making and depicted over two hundred and fifty-six varieties of fruit grown in some of London’s most celebrated gardens, and in particular, the Royal Gardens at Hampton Court.
Engraved in aquatint and stipple, printed in colour and finished by hand, Pomona Britannica depicted fruit in a stylized composition against an aquatint background for a striking contrast and dramatic effect. At a time when folio flower-books such as Robert Thornton’s were having difficulty finding purchasers, Brookshaw’s fruits proved a resounding success. Indeed, in 1817 a fine quarto edition was published with little expense spared.
Brookshaw followed up his masterpiece with A New Treatise on Flower Painting: or Every Lady her own drawing master, and two companion volumes on birds and fruit. However, none of his successive works would truly match the grandeur of Pomona Britannica, which may be considered one of the finest colour plate books ever published.
Below are a few examples from this collection. Please click on an image to see it in high-resolution with details of the work itself. For the full list of original antique Brookshaw engravings available, please do contact us.
![Brookshaw: Peaches. 1817. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 8" x 11". [NATHISp5897] Peaches: Four Varieties:](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/NATHISp5897w.jpg?w=233&h=279&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Gooseberries. 1812. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 13" x 17". [NATHISp6402] Seventeen varieties of Gooseberries.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nathisp6402w.jpg?w=226&h=279&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Grapes. 1817. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 8" x 11". [NATHISp2342] Grapes: Bunch of green grapes:](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/NATHISp2342w.jpg?w=225&h=279&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Plums. 1812. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 13" x 17". [NATHISp6450] Plums: Cherry Plum, Laurence Plum, French Orlean and Common Orlean.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nathisp6450w.jpg?w=220&h=279&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Melon. 1817 An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 9" x 12". [NATHISp7407] Melon: Scarlet-fleshed Rock Melon.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nathisp7407w.jpg?w=312&h=382&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Grapes. 1817. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 10" x 12". [NATHISp2778] Grapes: Black Hamberg.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nathisp2778w.jpg?w=293&h=382&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Pears. 1812. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 13" x 17". [NATHISp2313] Pears: Brown Beurree, Golden Beurree and Colmar.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nathisp2313w.jpg?w=303&h=382&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Apples. 1817. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 8" x 11". [NATHISp5898] Apples: Four Varieties. Conpenden Rouge & Blanche, Embroidered Pippin, Lemon Pippen.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nathisp5898w.jpg?w=234&h=276&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Cherries. 1812. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 13" x 17". [NATHISp6453] Cherries: Kentish or Flemish, English Bearer and Carnation.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nathisp6453w.jpg?w=219&h=276&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Peaches. 1812. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 13" x 17". [NATHISp6367] Peaches: Millet's Minion, Super Royal and Double Swalsh.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nathisp6367w.jpg?w=223&h=276&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Pears. 1817. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 8" x 11". [NATHISp2355] Pears: Three Varieties.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/NATHISp2355w.jpg?w=228&h=276&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Peaches. 1817. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 8" x 11". [NATHISp5896] Peaches: Three varieties with Blossom.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/NATHISp5896w.jpg?w=444&h=579&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Currants. 1812. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 13" x 17". [NATHISp6110] Currants: Black Currant, Dutch Red and Dutch White.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nathisp6110w.jpg?w=468&h=579&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Apples. 1812. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 13" x 17". [NATHISp6454] Apples: Robertson's Pippin, Blanchard's Pippin, Lemon Pippin, Aromatic Pippin and Embroidered Pippin.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nathisp6454w.jpg?w=222&h=281&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Apples. 1817. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 8" x 11". [NATHISp2354] Apples: Rhenet Margill and Pippin.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/NATHISp2354w.jpg?w=234&h=281&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Cherries. 1812. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 13" x 17". [NATHISp2332] Cherries: Tradescant Cherry, Millet's Duke and Amber Heart.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nathisp2332w.jpg?w=226&h=281&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Plums. 1812. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 13" x 17". [NATHISp2312] Plums: Drap d'Or, White Gage, Blue Gage and Green Gage.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nathisp2312w.jpg?w=222&h=281&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Apples. 1817. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 8" x 11". [NATHISp2341] Apples: Three Green and Red Varieties:](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/NATHISp2341w.jpg?w=462&h=530&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Pears. 1817. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 8" x 11". [NATHISp2340] Pears: Saint Germain, Colmar and Brown Beuree.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/NATHISp2340w.jpg?w=450&h=530&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Grapes. 1817. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 8" x 11". [NATHISp2349] Grapes: White Sweet Water Grape.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nathisp2349w.jpg?w=225&h=285&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Nectarines. 1812. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 13" x 17". [NATHISp6452] Nectarines: Claremont, Homerton's White, Ford's Black and Genoa.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nathisp6452w.jpg?w=229&h=285&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Peaches. 1817. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 8" x 11". [NATHISp2350] Peaches: Four Varieties with Blossom:](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/NATHISp2350w.jpg?w=225&h=285&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Pears. 1812. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 13" x 17". [NATHISp6451] Pears: Virgoulle, Striped Vert Longue, Swan's Egg and Pear d'Auch.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nathisp6451w.jpg?w=225&h=285&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Melon. 1817. An original colour mixed method engraving. 9" x 12". [NATHISp7408] Melon: Polignac Melon.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nathisp7408w.jpg?w=461&h=562&ssl=1)
![Brookshaw: Melon. 1812. An original colour antique mixed method engraving. 13" x 17". [NATHISp6449] Silver Rock Melon.](https://i0.wp.com/prints.themaphouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nathisp6449w.jpg?w=451&h=562&ssl=1)