Truly global in its scope, this beautifully illustrated book moves
across centuries and continents to explore the evolution and diversity
of botanical art.
Images produced in the study of plants have always held a fascination
for all those who love nature. The Golden Age of Botanical Art brings
together the stories of the intrepid explorers and the professional
artists who recorded for posterity the flora that they encountered on
their expeditions. It delves into the sketchbooks of explorers in the
Himalayas and follows the voyages of those who found new worlds and
species as far apart as Russia and South America.
Special features cover key figures in the botanical art world including
such great names as Ehret and Bauer, as well as distinguished
collections, such as that of Mutis at the Royal Botanical Gardens in
Madrid. Rarely, or previously unpublished, images from the Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew, and other archives from around the world, reveal how these
illustrations made a significant contribution to our understanding of
the world and the glories of nature.