Apple Art

Apple highlights from the
RHS Lindley Library Collection

RHS Lindley Library

Explore the wonderful world of apples through the illustrations, engravings and paintings of the RHS Lindley Library Collections.

Colour woodcut illustration of different apple shapes from Andreae Matthioli, Kreutterbuch, (Frankfurt, 1586).

Colour woodcut illustration of different apple shapes from Andreae Matthioli, Kreutterbuch, (Frankfurt, 1586). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Colour woodcut illustration of different apple shapes from Andreae Matthioli, Kreutterbuch, (Frankfurt, 1586). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Engraved illustration of Apple and Rose from Crispiijn de Passe the Younger, Hortus floridus (Arnheim, 1614).

Engraved illustration of Apple and Rose from Crispiijn de Passe the Younger, Hortus floridus (Arnheim, 1614). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections

Engraved illustration of Apple and Rose from Crispiijn de Passe the Younger, Hortus floridus (Arnheim, 1614). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections

Colour engraving of apple varieties from George Brookshaw, Pomona Britannica (London, 1812).

Colour engraving of apple varieties from George Brookshaw, Pomona Britannica (London, 1812). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections

Colour engraving of apple varieties from George Brookshaw, Pomona Britannica (London, 1812). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections

Colour engraving of apple varieties from Johann Ludwig Christ, Vollständige pomology (Frankfurt, 1809–1812).

Colour engraving of apple varieties from Johann Ludwig Christ, Vollständige pomology (Frankfurt, 1809–1812). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Colour engraving of apple varieties from Johann Ludwig Christ, Vollständige pomology (Frankfurt, 1809–1812). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘The Wyken Pippin’ by Charles Robertson, 1821.

Watercolour of ‘The Wyken Pippin’ by Charles Robertson, 1821. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. VIII. Horticultural Society of London. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘The Wyken Pippin’ by Charles Robertson, 1821. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. VIII. Horticultural Society of London. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘The Ribston Pippin’ by William Hooker, 1816.

Watercolour of ‘The Ribston Pippin’ by William Hooker, 1816. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. VII. Horticultural Society of London. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘The Ribston Pippin’ by William Hooker, 1816. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. VII. Horticultural Society of London. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘Hughes Golden Pippin’ by William Hooker, 1815.

Watercolour of ‘Hughes Golden Pippin’ by William Hooker, 1815. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. I. Horticultural Society of London Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘Hughes Golden Pippin’ by William Hooker, 1815. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. I. Horticultural Society of London Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Colour engraving of ‘Siberian Harvey’ by William Hooker after an original by Elizabeth Matthews, 1811.

Colour engraving of ‘Siberian Harvey’ by William Hooker after an original by Elizabeth Matthews, 1811. From Thomas Andrew Knight, Pomona Herefordiensis (London, 1811). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Colour engraving of ‘Siberian Harvey’ by William Hooker after an original by Elizabeth Matthews, 1811. From Thomas Andrew Knight, Pomona Herefordiensis (London, 1811). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘The Syke House Apple’ by William Hooker, 1816.

Watercolour of ‘The Syke House Apple’ by William Hooker, 1816. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. II. Horticultural Society of London Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘The Syke House Apple’ by William Hooker, 1816. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. II. Horticultural Society of London Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘Padley’s Pippin’ by William Hooker, 1818.

Watercolour of ‘Padley’s Pippin’ by William Hooker, 1818. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. IV. Horticultural Society of London Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘Padley’s Pippin’ by William Hooker, 1818. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. IV. Horticultural Society of London Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Chromolithographic illustration of 'Wax Apple', 'Brown's Summer Beauty', 'Thorle' or 'Thoral Pippin', 'Sops of Wine', 'Eve' or 'Egg Apple' and 'Hicks's Fancy', by Elizabeth Ronalds.

Chromolithographic illustration of 'Wax Apple', 'Brown's Summer Beauty', 'Thorle' or 'Thoral Pippin', 'Sops of Wine', 'Eve' or 'Egg Apple' and 'Hicks's Fancy', by Elizabeth Ronalds. From Hugh Ronalds, Pyrus malus Brentfordiensis (London: 1831). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Chromolithographic illustration of 'Wax Apple', 'Brown's Summer Beauty', 'Thorle' or 'Thoral Pippin', 'Sops of Wine', 'Eve' or 'Egg Apple' and 'Hicks's Fancy', by Elizabeth Ronalds. From Hugh Ronalds, Pyrus malus Brentfordiensis (London: 1831). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Autochrome of a still-life of apples in a bowl by William Van Sommer, 1913.

Autochrome of a still-life of apples in a bowl by William Van Sommer, 1913. Credit: William Van Sommer/RHS Lindley Collections.

Autochrome of a still-life of apples in a bowl by William Van Sommer, 1913. Credit: William Van Sommer/RHS Lindley Collections.

Item 1 of 12
Colour woodcut illustration of different apple shapes from Andreae Matthioli, Kreutterbuch, (Frankfurt, 1586).

Colour woodcut illustration of different apple shapes from Andreae Matthioli, Kreutterbuch, (Frankfurt, 1586). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Colour woodcut illustration of different apple shapes from Andreae Matthioli, Kreutterbuch, (Frankfurt, 1586). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Engraved illustration of Apple and Rose from Crispiijn de Passe the Younger, Hortus floridus (Arnheim, 1614).

Engraved illustration of Apple and Rose from Crispiijn de Passe the Younger, Hortus floridus (Arnheim, 1614). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections

Engraved illustration of Apple and Rose from Crispiijn de Passe the Younger, Hortus floridus (Arnheim, 1614). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections

Colour engraving of apple varieties from George Brookshaw, Pomona Britannica (London, 1812).

Colour engraving of apple varieties from George Brookshaw, Pomona Britannica (London, 1812). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections

Colour engraving of apple varieties from George Brookshaw, Pomona Britannica (London, 1812). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections

Colour engraving of apple varieties from Johann Ludwig Christ, Vollständige pomology (Frankfurt, 1809–1812).

Colour engraving of apple varieties from Johann Ludwig Christ, Vollständige pomology (Frankfurt, 1809–1812). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Colour engraving of apple varieties from Johann Ludwig Christ, Vollständige pomology (Frankfurt, 1809–1812). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘The Wyken Pippin’ by Charles Robertson, 1821.

Watercolour of ‘The Wyken Pippin’ by Charles Robertson, 1821. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. VIII. Horticultural Society of London. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘The Wyken Pippin’ by Charles Robertson, 1821. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. VIII. Horticultural Society of London. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘The Ribston Pippin’ by William Hooker, 1816.

Watercolour of ‘The Ribston Pippin’ by William Hooker, 1816. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. VII. Horticultural Society of London. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘The Ribston Pippin’ by William Hooker, 1816. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. VII. Horticultural Society of London. Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘Hughes Golden Pippin’ by William Hooker, 1815.

Watercolour of ‘Hughes Golden Pippin’ by William Hooker, 1815. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. I. Horticultural Society of London Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘Hughes Golden Pippin’ by William Hooker, 1815. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. I. Horticultural Society of London Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Colour engraving of ‘Siberian Harvey’ by William Hooker after an original by Elizabeth Matthews, 1811.

Colour engraving of ‘Siberian Harvey’ by William Hooker after an original by Elizabeth Matthews, 1811. From Thomas Andrew Knight, Pomona Herefordiensis (London, 1811). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Colour engraving of ‘Siberian Harvey’ by William Hooker after an original by Elizabeth Matthews, 1811. From Thomas Andrew Knight, Pomona Herefordiensis (London, 1811). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘The Syke House Apple’ by William Hooker, 1816.

Watercolour of ‘The Syke House Apple’ by William Hooker, 1816. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. II. Horticultural Society of London Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘The Syke House Apple’ by William Hooker, 1816. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. II. Horticultural Society of London Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘Padley’s Pippin’ by William Hooker, 1818.

Watercolour of ‘Padley’s Pippin’ by William Hooker, 1818. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. IV. Horticultural Society of London Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Watercolour of ‘Padley’s Pippin’ by William Hooker, 1818. From Drawings of Fruits, Vol. IV. Horticultural Society of London Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Chromolithographic illustration of 'Wax Apple', 'Brown's Summer Beauty', 'Thorle' or 'Thoral Pippin', 'Sops of Wine', 'Eve' or 'Egg Apple' and 'Hicks's Fancy', by Elizabeth Ronalds.

Chromolithographic illustration of 'Wax Apple', 'Brown's Summer Beauty', 'Thorle' or 'Thoral Pippin', 'Sops of Wine', 'Eve' or 'Egg Apple' and 'Hicks's Fancy', by Elizabeth Ronalds. From Hugh Ronalds, Pyrus malus Brentfordiensis (London: 1831). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Chromolithographic illustration of 'Wax Apple', 'Brown's Summer Beauty', 'Thorle' or 'Thoral Pippin', 'Sops of Wine', 'Eve' or 'Egg Apple' and 'Hicks's Fancy', by Elizabeth Ronalds. From Hugh Ronalds, Pyrus malus Brentfordiensis (London: 1831). Credit: RHS Lindley Collections.

Autochrome of a still-life of apples in a bowl by William Van Sommer, 1913.

Autochrome of a still-life of apples in a bowl by William Van Sommer, 1913. Credit: William Van Sommer/RHS Lindley Collections.

Autochrome of a still-life of apples in a bowl by William Van Sommer, 1913. Credit: William Van Sommer/RHS Lindley Collections.

Created by RHS Lindley Library.

Based at the Royal Horticultural Society’s headquarters at Vincent Square in London, the Lindley Library holds a world-class collection of horticultural books, journals and botanical art.

Heritage Fund logo

Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Find us on Twitter and Facebook.

TopBuilt with Shorthand