''The Birth of the Sweetest Flower''

Illustration by Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale

 

 

This glorious illustration from Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale was published in the 1924 Christmas Edition of The London

Illustrated News.

 

It depicts the moment where the Archangel Gabriel greets the Virgin Mary, whereupon the first Rose bloomed.

 

The introduction to the legend provided in The London Illustrated News follows:

 

The Rose is not only the emblem of England, the very soul of

summer, and the sweetest of all the blooms in an English garden,

but it is a flower interwoven with the mystic legends of our

religion, and is closely associated with the Virgin Mary. The

legend of the rose's birth is that when Gabriel saluted the

Blessed Virgin, "the Rose wherein the Word Divine was made

incarnate," her namesake first sprang from the earth, and twined

itself into a sweet-scented arbour above her head.

 

 

Complete image

Single Greeting Card (with matching Envelope)

Code: EFB BSF SGC
Price: US$5.00

Detail (for reference)
 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: EFB BSF 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Our Greeting Cards

 

When presented on Greeting Cards, this image is prepared as a tipped-on plate - in hommage to the hand-crafted

approach typical of prestige illustrated publications produced in the early decades of the 20th Century. Each card is

hand-finished, with the image presented on Ivory card stock with an accompanying envelope. On the rear of each

card we also present some information about Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale and this wonderful illustration. We have

left the interior of the cards blank so that you may write your own personal message.

 

Our large format reproductions

 

Each of our large format reproductions are prepared with archival quality materials and processes to ensure many years

of enjoyment. In addition, our reproductions are accompanied by explanatory material relating to this wonderful illustration and Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale.

 

How to purchase

 

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