Traité des Arbres Frutier
by Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau
from watercolor illustrations by Aubriet

Hand-colored copperplate engravings over 250 years old
(1768)

Sheet size: approx. 9½ x 12¾ inches

Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau (1700-1782), came from a wealthy farming family in France. Truly a Renaissance man, he had many interests
After an education in Law at Orleans University, he studied at the Jardin des Plantes, where he discovered the fungus disease affecting the saffron crocus, an important cash crop of the era.
This work gained him membership in the prestigious Academie des Sciences.

He went on to study trees especially fruit trees, and wrote many works regarding different aspects of tree cultivation & pruning.
This dynamic man also accepted an appointment in 1731 as Inspector General of the French Navy, which then resulted in works on boat building, rope making & other maritime subjects.
His interests were united in attempts to grow trees that would provide the very best material for boat construction.

He might be considered one of the early conservationists & organic gardeners. Growing over 600 species of trees on his country estate,
he espoused the concepts of Jethro Tull, who believed the soil was the basis of health for all that resides therein.

The copper engravings from Traité des Arbres Frutier are among the most beautiful engravings of fruit ever drawn.