The Pontic Rhododendron features clusters of vibrant, lilac-purple blossoms set against a dark, mountainous horizon. Thornton contrasts the flower’s lush, evergreen foliage with a stark, shadowy wilderness, capturing the sublime beauty of a plant that was, at the time, a rare and prestigious garden arrival. When this plate was published in 1799, the Rhododendron was considered a high-status exotic import from the Black Sea region. It hadn't yet become the common (and sometimes invasive) shrub seen across the UK today.

Framed options from A4 to A1 sizes. Frame colour: 'Black' or 'Light Oak'.

Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art.