September 1732 by FURBER, Robert (circa 1674-1756, publisher) - After Pieter CASTEELS (1684-1749) - 1732

[from "Twelve Months of Fruit"]. London: Robert Furber, 1732. Copper engraving by Henry Fletcher after Casteels, contemporary hand-colouring. Expert restoration to margin. A marvellous cornucopia of real fruit. Robert Furber was a nurseryman with gardens near Hyde Park gate in Kensington, and for many years a churchwarden at St. Mary Abbot's, Kensington. Following on from the success of his Twelve months of Flowers catalogue (first published in 1730), Furber employed the same methods two years later, when publicising the wide range of fruit that he could provide to the great gardens of England: each plate depicts different arrangements of fruit 'arranged on or around bowls, dishes, or baskets ... from the apples and pears of January and February to the cherries, currants, mulberries, plums, peaches, strawberries, and other soft fruit of June ... [A total of 364 varieties] are shown, each one numbered in reference to the names printed below each picture. By the name of each variety is a letter S, D, E, or W, for standard, dwarf, espalier, or wall, and indicating its habit of growth and most productive method of treatment' (Oak Spring Pomona p.65). This plate (like all the others in the series) is based on the incomparable paintings of Pieter Casteels (1684-1749) who came from Antwerp and settled in London in 1708. Between 1708 and 1735 (when he retired from painting) Casteels enjoyed great success with his paintings of nature: birds, flowers and, as here, fruit. Cf. Dunthorne 117; cf. Henrey III, 734; cf. Nissen BBI 765; cf. Oak Spring Pomona 26.