{"product_id":"persimmons-and-custard-apples-boym-c-1656","title":"Persimmons and Custard Apples - Boym c.1656","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBoym’s Persimmons and Custard Apples (c. 1656)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTitle:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Page 23 de la Relation de la Chine (Botanical Study of Chinese Fruits)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthor\/Artist:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Michael Boym (Jesuit Missionary)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Published in Paris \/ Vienna\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDate:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e c. 1656\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTechnique:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Copperplate engraving with vibrant hand-colouring\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Narrative: A Jesuit’s Botanical Revelation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis print represents a landmark moment in the cross-cultural exchange between East and West. Michael Boym, a Polish Jesuit missionary, was the first European to scientifically document the flora of the Far East. This specific plate illustrates the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePersimmon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (top) and the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCustard Apple\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e or \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSugar Apple\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (bottom), introducing these exotic species to a European audience that had never seen, let alone tasted, them.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe artwork is famous for its unique blend of European scientific illustration and Chinese calligraphic influence. It features the names of the plants in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChinese characters\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, accompanied by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003etransliterations\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLatin descriptions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, making it one of the earliest examples of a multilingual botanical guide.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChronicles of the Print\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Persimmon Study\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: At the top, the engraving captures the fruit at various stages of growth, including a cross-section of the leaf and the distinctively shaped calyx of the fruit.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Custard Apple\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: The lower half showcases the scaled exterior of the fruit and a detailed internal cross-section, revealing the segmented pulp that fascinated 17th-century botanists.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCultural Fusion\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: The inclusion of Chinese characters alongside Latin text reflects the Jesuit mission's goal of understanding and bridging the gap between European science and Chinese tradition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHand-Coloured Artistry\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: The rich greens and deep earthy oranges of the fruits are beautifully preserved, highlighting the texture of the bark and the waxy surface of the leaves.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Treasures of the Orient","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43924547272769,"sku":null,"price":1800.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0572\/7125\/5105\/files\/87B70B1B-D920-44E7-8CEE-1B67DCB18830.jpg?v=1778318765","url":"https:\/\/treasuresoftheorient.com\/products\/persimmons-and-custard-apples-boym-c-1656","provider":"Treasures of the Orient","version":"1.0","type":"link"}