Bring the rich, sun-baked heritage of early 20th-century tropical exploration and sacred botany into your home with this exceptional vintage botanical art print. Originally hand-painted in May 1909 by the celebrated USDA scientific illustrator Ellen Isham Schutt, this exquisite watercolor captures a cross-section of the historic Bael fruit (Aegle marmelos), collected in Tirhoot, India, by the legendary American plant explorer David Fairchild.

Featuring a perfectly sliced Bael fruit—famed for its highly aromatic, medicinal properties—this print showcases a vibrant, sunburst-like wheel of saffron-orange flesh lined with a radial crown of teardrop-shaped seeds. Meticulously restored to preserve the original warm watercolor gradients, delicate pencil guidelines, and authentic handwritten archival notes, this print rests on a naturally warm ivory backdrop, offering an organic and deeply historic visual anchor for your walls.

The History: Ellen Isham Schutt (1873–1955) was a premier illustrator for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) during the golden era of American pomological art. At a time when global plant exploration was at its peak, the USDA sent pioneering agricultural explorers like Dr. David Fairchild (1869–1954) around the globe to introduce new crops to American soil. Fairchild collected this specimen of Bael—historically revered in India as a sacred tree associated with Lord Shiva—from the region of “Balsing Serai, Tirhoot, India.” Sent back to Washington, D.C., the specimen was logged under entry number 43660 and painted by Schutt on May 1, 1909, with final details completed on May 15, 1909. Today, this masterwork is preserved within the permanent archives of the National Agricultural Library, representing a landmark era of global botanical curiosity.

The Aesthetic: A gorgeous showcase of early 20th-century scientific realism, this composition uses a striking, centered circular motif that resembles a radiant solar emblem. Schutt masterfully layers shades of deep ochre, marigold, and fiery orange to depict the fleshy, fibrous interior of the fruit, contrasting it against the thin, pale woody rind. A radial ring of seed cavities containing woolly, teardrop-shaped seeds is painted with realistic brown-and-tan textures, complete with a soft, pencil-shaded shadow beneath the fruit to give it a dimensional, lifelike weight. Grounded by authentic, elegant archival cursive displaying the historical specimen number, Fairchild’s field location, and Schutt’s signatures, this high-contrast print adds an effortless layer of academic and naturalistic charm to any space.

It is an ideal statement piece for:

Culinary enthusiasts, tea lovers, plant collectors, tropical gardeners, historians, and collectors of vintage scientific diagrams and botanical watercolors.
Warm modern kitchens, dining rooms, breakfast alcoves, cozy home libraries, or as a striking geometric pop of color on a gallery wall.
Biophilic, Japandi, mid-century modern, bohemian, or transitional interior design styles that value clean, minimal spaces paired with warm, storied focal points.

Product Details

Artist: Ellen Isham Schutt – Vintage USDA Pomological Illustrator

Title: Bael Fruit (Aegle marmelos Study)

Subject: Antique Indian Wood Apple Watercolor and Archival USDA Notation

Original Date: May 1 & 15, 1909

Style: Early 20th-Century Scientific Watercolor / Vintage Botanical Fine Art

Museum-Quality Vintage Prints

Our vintage posters are made to order using premium Giclée printing techniques. Every piece is printed on thick, heavyweight fine art paper (200gsm) with a smooth, completely matte finish.

We specifically source an acid-free, natural-toned paper that perfectly recreates the warmth and authentic character of original mid-century lithographs. Unlike standard glossy posters, our premium matte finish ensures there is zero glare when your artwork is framed behind glass, resulting in a rich, museum-quality display. Combined with long-lasting, UV-resistant pigment inks, your print is designed to remain vibrant for generations.