The Book of Fruits

by Taschen (Editor), George Brookshaw

Pomona Britannica, originally published in 1812, celebrated the richness of food variations cultivated in England, with superb illustrations by George Brockham of 256 species of fifteen kinds of fruit. For this compact, enhanced reprint, we have been fortunate enough to obtain the use of a very rare original copy: the exquisite, limited edition, hand-colored volume that was first owned by Princess Elizabeth, daughter of George III. Each chapter of our publication focuses on one family of fruit and is accompanied by a contemporary text giving nutritional information about the fruits as well as cultural and historical analyses. Lovingly drawn on charcoal backgrounds, the mouth-watering cherries, apples, figs, and other divine fruits seem to jump right off the page.

Genres: Art

126 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2005

About the author

'Taschen is an art book publisher founded in 1980 by Benedikt Taschen in Cologne, Germany. It began as Taschen Comics publishing Benedikt's extensive comic collection. Taschen has been a noteworthy force in making lesser-seen art available to mainstream bookstores, including some fetishistic imagery, queer art, historical erotica, pornography and adult magazines (including multiple books with Playboy magazine). Taschen has helped bring this art into broader public view, by publishing these potentially controversial volumes alongside its more mainstream books of comics reprints, art photography, painting, design, fashion, advertising history, film, and architecture.' - Wikipedia

Reviews

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pomona is a book which specializes in the description of fruit varieties (like an herbal illustrates and describes herbs).

Most of the fruit varieties pictured in here I have never heard of. I didn't buy this because I needed to identify cultivated fruits, though... I bought it because the paintings are absolutely beautiful. I'd seen reprints around before, but didn't realize they came from this pomona.

Anyone who's ever tried to paint fruit before will be blown away. George Brookshaw had mad skills.