Date: 1910
Size: image 5.5 x 9.5 inches; 10.25 x 14 inches matted
Artist: Aimé Bessin
In 1910 Léon Rolland, the president of the Mycological Society of France, wrote a book titled "Atlas des champignons de France, Suisse et Belgique," an atlas of French, Swiss, and Belgian fungi. Rolland (1841-1912) made many mycological trips in France and abroad, for instance to Chamonix, Morocco, Algeria, and the Balearic Islands including the valley of Sóller. His greatest oeuvre was the atlas which covered 283 species, having originally been published in 15 parts from 1906 until 1910, and finally summarized in two volumes in 1910.
It also contained 120 chrome-lithographic watercolour plates created by the illustrator Aimé Bessin (1870-1942), who also illustrated Paul Dumée's mushroom book. This plate features the galactinia sarrazini and sarcosphaera coronaria. Image measures 5.5 x 9.5 inches and has been matted to 10.25 x 14 inches. A specially-designed cream-coloured Italian mat features a golden interior liner and crimson exterior lines. This piece will look fabulous framed in a kitchen, restaurant or any area where a little retro decor is needed!