Who painted Great Nettle?

Great Nettle was painted by Bradbury & Evans in 1854.

Where can I see Great Nettle?

Great Nettle is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Great Nettle?

Great Nettle is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Great Nettle

Bradbury & Evans , 1854

Great Nettle is a print by the Impressionist artist Bradbury & Evans. It dates from 1854 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

This print, *Great Nettle*, was made in 1854 by Bradbury & Evans. It’s a nature print—no paint, just the plant itself pressed into metal.

The trick is simple but clever: a real nettle was sandwiched between soft lead and hard copper. The leaf’s shape and veins transferred exactly onto the plate, giving us this wild, life-like image.

Try the Victoria and Albert Museum next.

Overview

Great Nettle is a print created in 1854 by Bradbury & Evans using the nature printing technique. This method utilizes a real specimen to generate the printing surface, resulting in a highly detailed reproduction.

Subject & Meaning

The subject of the print is a common nettle leaf, rendered in exquisite detail. The choice of subject highlights the technique's ability to capture natural forms with precision, rather than conveying a specific symbolic or narrative meaning.

Technique & Style

The print was made by sandwiching a real nettle leaf between soft lead and hard copper, transferring the leaf's shape and vein structure onto the lead to create the printing plate. The outcome is a lifelike, highly textured image devoid of artistic embellishment.

History & Provenance

Produced in 1854 by Bradbury & Evans, this print exemplifies the nature printing process patented in Britain by William Bradbury in the mid-19th century, with roots in earlier Italian developments.