Elizabeth Blackwell

Botanical illustrator

Blackwell White rose

Image courtesy of National Library of Scotland

  • BORN 1700 Aberdeen, Scotland
  • DIED 1758 London
  • WORKED Aberdeen, Scotland; London
  • HONOURS Her project to sketch plants was supported by prominent doctors of her day, as well as by the Society of Apothecaries. The final version sold very well – evidence that it was useful

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Entry by Catherine Booth

Artistic Connections

Blackwell was a botanical artist whose work “A Curious Herbal” succeeded in demonstrating her skills as an artist, but also earned the respect and support of several influential people. There is no image of her that we know of, but the artist Amy Whiten, created an impression of her at work for the electric voice theatre production of “Scottish Superwomen of Science – Minerva Scientifica”

MUSIC

Title: Curious Herbs (With Mary’s Love)
Music by: ISABELLA SCOTT GIBSON and FRANCES M LYNCH
Words by: Elizabeth Blackwell
Written in: c.1800 and 2017
For: female speaker and SATB vocal ensemble
Performed by: Frances M Lynch and Francis St. John

Elizabeth Blackwell’s extraordinary work “A Curious Herbal” lists 500 medicinal herbs and gives instructions on their uses. We chant the herb names and sing some of the more outlandish instructions which betray the music of a beautiful 4 part hymn, set by Gibson –  With Mary’s love without her fear. Her score indicates that the tune is in Common Metre and credits it as “Howe Street”.

Title: Lizzie’s (Mary’s) Magic Dream
Music by:  ANNE HUNTER
Words:  Traditional
Written in: 1742–1821
Arranged by: Frances M Lynch
For: 3  voices
Performed by: Frances M Lynch

The song was very slightly adapted to reflect the story of Elizabeth Blackwell whose husband was executed in Sweden after a series of misadventures. In this song he (Sandy) revisits his “Lizzie” at night as a ghost – the original song was called “Mary’s Magic Dream” and her Sandy was a sailor drowned at sea. The contemporary arrangement uses the plants named by Blackwell in her huge tomes “A Curious Herbal”.

Education

Although her husband was well-educated, there is no evidence to tell us where and how she was educated. Her father, William Blachrie, was a stocking merchant in Aberdeen, whose business appeared to do well, so she may have had some instruction at home

Occupations

Botanical artist, who produced one of the earliest botanical works by a woman.

Amy Whiten’s drawing of Elizabeth Blackwell at work

Scientific Achievement

She visited Chelsea Physic Garden, to find out about plants which could be used as herbal remedies. She then drew and engraved 500 copper plates in order to produce her work: A Curious Herbal, published in weekly parts from 1737. Each illustration was botanically accurate, and was accompanied by text to describe each plant, which explained how it could be used to treat different ailments. Her husband had studied medicine, and was able to help with the text for the descriptions.

Did You Know?

When her husband was imprisoned for debt, she realised she was the only person who could pay these off, as well as support her family. With the publication of “A Curious Herbal” she eventually succeeded in having her husband freed from prison, but it seems he was unable to keep out of trouble. He became involved in political activity in Sweden, and was subsequently executed for treason.

An Inspiring Woman

In her project, she showed she was a clever businesswoman, succeeding in advertising and marketing her product.

Links



Search for Elizabeth Blackwell on this page and you can view some of the colour plates from “A Curious Herbal”

New York Public Library Digital Collection containing the complete “A Curious Herbal” in black and white


There is a monument to Elizabeth Blackwell inside the church, alongside those of Margaret Roper, Magdalen Herbert and Mary Astell