The Art of Botanical Illustration

Description

This major work, first published in 1950, is still considered the classic book on the subject. It provides a comprehensive, critical and well-illustrated survey of the portrayal of plants across over three thousand years, at a more compact size. Of the first edition, the poet and gardening writer, Vita Sackville-West said: "Let no one think this is a book only for the specialist. It is essential for the specialist, certainly, but it is also for all the flower-lovers and all those who enjoy the by-ways of biography and the added attraction of good writing". This edition contains 126 colour plates (more than twice as many as the first edition), alongside 140 black-and-white illustrations. It invites the reader to appreciate the works of the greatest botanical illustrators both past and present. AUTHORS: Wilfrid Blunt (1901-87) was an art master at Haileybury College and at Eton College, Windsor. On his retirement in 1959 he became Curator of the Watts Gallery, near Guildford, Surrey. Here Blunt devoted most of his time to writing and travel and published some 25 books. An artist himself, Blunt brought to Botanical Illustration a craftsman's appreciation, as well as knowledge gained from experience, his extensive reading and visits to many galleries on the Continent. William Stearn (1911-2001) had a lifelong interest in botanical illustration. His numerous publications included Botanical Latin, Australian Flower Paintings of Ferdinand Bauer, Merian in Surinam, Plant Portraits from the Flora Danica, Flower Artists of Kew and The Orchid Paintings of Franz Bauer. He provided assistance on botanical, biographical and bibliographical matters in Botanical Illustration, and contributed part of the text. SELLING POINTS: . A comprehensive and accessible historical and artistic survey of botanical illustration . Perhaps the most important book on botanical painting ever published

Wilfrid Blunt (1901-87) was an art master at Haileybury College and at Eton College, Windsor. On his retirement in 1959 he became Curator of the Watts Gallery, near Guildford, Surrey. Here Blunt devoted most of his time to writing and travel and published some 25 books. An artist himself, Blunt brought to Botanical Illustration a craftsman's appreciation, as well as knowledge gained from experience, his extensive reading and visits to many galleries on the Continent. William Stearn (1911-2001) had a lifelong interest in botanical illustration. His numerous publications included Botanical Latin, Australian Flower Paintings of Ferdinand Bauer, Merian in Surinam, Plant Portraits from the Flora Danica, Flower Artists of Kew and The Orchid Paintings of Franz Bauer. He provided assistance on botanical, biographical and bibliographical matters in Botanical Illustration, and contributed part of the text.

ESSENTIAL READING / HIGHLY RECOMMENDED This book - first published in 1950 - is probably the most famous book about the history of botanical art and illustrations and the artists and illustrators that produced it. This is the standard by which all other books about botanical illustration are judged. It represents a benchmark in terms of documenting botanical illustration and artists included in this book are worth noting.-- "Botanical Art and Artists"