Dendrobium Luteolum Chlorocentrum - Fitch c.1884-1890

Title: Dendrobium Luteolum Chlorocentrum (Plate 322)
Artist: John Nugent Fitch
Publication: The Orchid Album, dedicated to H.R.H. The Princess of Wales
Published: London, by B.S. Williams & Sons, c. 1884–1890
Technique: Original chromolithograph

Description: This elegant plate depicts the Dendrobium luteolum chlorocentrum, a striking orchid variety celebrated for its pale yellow blossoms and distinctive green centers. The print was featured in The Orchid Album, one of the most prestigious botanical periodicals of the Victorian era. The work was specifically designed to showcase the "new, rare, and beautiful" orchids being cultivated in British hothouses during the height of "Orchidalia"—the 19th-century craze for rare orchid species.

The illustration by John Nugent Fitch is a masterpiece of chromolithography, a color-printing process that used multiple lithographic stones to achieve soft, layered gradients and realistic botanical hues. The composition showcases the plant in its full glory, including the delicate structure of the petals, the segmented stems, and the unopened buds, providing both aesthetic pleasure and a botanical record of the species.

• Authenticity: Guaranteed original 19th-century chromolithograph.

• Royal Connection: Part of a publication dedicated to Alexandra of Denmark, then the Princess of Wales.

• Artistic Pedigree: John Nugent Fitch was one of the most prolific and respected botanical artists of the era, known for his work in The Botanical Magazine.