Besler's Crown Imperial — Antique Botanical Print

The Story in the Margin

This plate depicts the crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis), a tall spring bulb native to a broad swath of Asia from Turkey and Iran to the Himalayan foothills, named for its ring of pendant, bell-shaped flowers topped by a tuft of leaves like a crown. It comes from Hortus Eystettensis, the landmark 1613 florilegium published by Basilius Besler, a Nuremberg apothecary who oversaw the renowned garden of the Prince-Bishop of Eichstätt. Besler's book, recording hundreds of plants grown in that single garden, is considered a turning point in botanical art, the moment illustration began celebrating plants for their beauty as much as their medicinal use.

Materials & origin

• Material: 200 gsm gallery-grade, acid-free fine-art paper (FSC-certified).
• Print: Archival giclée, 12-colour printing, smooth matte finish for glare-free display.
• Artwork: Restored from a public-domain original; colour and detail digitally cleaned for large-format print.
• Origin: Made on demand and shipped from the print hub nearest you, cutting transit and waste.
• Framing: Sold unframed; ships rolled in a protective tube.