Plate 38: Water Anemone, from "A New Book of Chinese Designs"
Etched and published by Matthias Darly British
Artist and publisher George Edwards British
Not on view
Plate 38 of 'A New Book of Chinese Designs', consisting of a title page, index, and 120 plates, etched and published in 1754 by the British caricaturist, printseller and ornamental engraver Matthew Darly, in collaboration with George Edwards. The book consists of a variety of ornamental and costume designs of Chinese inspiration, some of them copies of the original works (including the title).
This plate represents a water anemone, which grows from a bundle of stylized leaves on the right of the print, its branches scrolling towards the left, and filled with anemones fully on bloom, flower buds, and leaves. A butterfly flies on the upper right corner, approaching the flowers. On the bottom, bundles of grass, scrolling leaves, and a thin branch with a small anemone and leaves, float on the water.
