Synopses & Reviews
The seventeenth and eighteenth centuries witnessed a surge in the study of and interest in botanicals that led to some of the greatest books of plant illustration ever made, including such outstanding examples as the
Hortus Eystettensis, work by Maria Sibylla Merian, Thorntonandrsquo;s
Temple of Flora, Banksandrsquo;s
Florilegium, and Sibthorpandrsquo;s
Flora Graeca. Culled from these masterpieces of botanical art, this lavishly illustrated new book reproduces one hundred of the most beautiful flower images from this period.and#160;As Celia Fisher explains, during this time several developments took place that led to a significant increase in the popularity and output of botanical illustration, including the revolution created by the advancement of metal engraving, the development of the new Linnaean system for classifying types of plants, and the epic voyages of discovery that recorded and collected the exotic plants encountered in remote, uncharted lands. The historical illustrations presented here are arranged in alphabetical order by flower with an accompanying text that outlines their geographic and botanical origins, the derivation of their names, and the properties for which they were most valued.and#160;This beautiful and informative book will appeal to gardeners and flower lovers as well as readers interested in the history of botany and illustration.
Review
Exquisitely beautiful, the flower paintings of Alexander Marshal have a timeless resonance that makes them look as fresh today as they did when they were first created more than 350 years ago.
House and GardenSynopsis
A dazzling rendition of the seventeenth-century horticulturist?s famed watercolors.
Alexander Marshal?s Florilegium, or flower book, is one of the most exquisite and fascinating historic works of botanical art. The only surviving compilation of flower watercolors from seventeenth-century England, it has been admired for centuries for its dazzling color and its incredible attention to the intricacies of a varied array of plant species. A highly skilled, although self-taught artist, Alexander Marshal was a horticulturist and famed entomologist who believed the cultivation of plants was essential to the study of the natural world. He created his masterpiece over a period of thirty years, and in the nineteenth century, Florilegium was presented to King George IV to be housed in the Royal Library, where it has been preserved ever since.
Mr. Marshal?s Flower Book is arranged by season and contains 140 stunning illustrations culled from the original work. These plant studies record the new and exotic species of the time with intricate precision?from streaked and spotted tulips to hyacinths, naricissi, lilies, and spectacular crown imperials. Among the most beautiful works of botanical art, the dazzling pieces in this collection will delight garden enthusiasts and art lovers alike.
Synopsis
A dazzling rendition of the 17th-century horticulturist's famed watercolors, this most exquisite and fascinating work of botanical art has been admired for centuries for its dazzling color and its incredible attention to the intricacies of a varied array of plant species. The collection will delight garden enthusiasts and art lovers alike.Viking Studio
About the Author
and#160;Celia Fisher gained her MA and PhD at the Courtauld Institute of Art, where she studied flowers in fifteenth-century paintings and manuscripts. She has worked for the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew as part of a project evaluating the uses of plants. She lectures and writes widely on the history of plants and gardens in art, and is a keen gardener. Her publications include Flowers and Fruit, Still Life Paintings, Flowers in Medieval Manuscripts, and The Medieval Flower Book.
Table of Contents
Author's note
Introduction
The Plants
Acacia
Agapanthus
Aloe
Alstroemeria
Amaryllis
Anemone
Arctotis
Argemone
Arum
Aster
Auricula
Babiana
Banksia
Bombax
Bromeliad
Cactus
Caesalpinia
Calceolaria
Callistemon
Callistephus
Calycanthus
Camellia
Campsis
Canarina
Canna
Cercis
Cerinthe
Chimonanthus
Chrysanthemum
Clematis
Cornus
Cirnum
Curcuma
Cymbidium
Cypripedium
Datura
Dianthus
Digitalis
Dillenia
Dodecatheon
Eichhornia
Erica
Erythrina
Eucalyptus
Eucomis
Euphorbia
Fritillaria
Fuchsia
Gardenia
Gladiolus
Glaucium
Gloriosa
Gossypium
Grevillea
Haemanthus
Hamamelis
Hedychium
Heliconia
Helleborus
Hermodactylus
Hibiscus
Ipomoea
Iris
Kalmia
Kniphofia
Lathyrus
Lavendula
Lilium
Liriodendron
Magnolia
Monarda
Narcissus
Nelumbo
Nepenthes
Nerine
Nerium
Nymphaea
Opuntia
Paeonia
Papaver
Passiflora
Pelargonium
Phaius
Phlox
Plumeria
Prosthechea
Protea
Rhododendron
Rose
Rudbeckia
Sarracenia
Selenicereus
Sprekelia
Stapelia
Strelitzia
Teleopea
Tropaeolum
Tulip
Vanda
Zantedeschia
Zinnia
Index
Further Reading