Title: Art In Nature: Classical Botanical Prints from the Eighteenth to the Twentieth Century
Author: Rizzoli
Publisher: Rizzoli
Copyright Date: 1991-07-15
ISBN: 0847814017
Type: Hardcover
Book condition: Good
Jacket condition: Good

Notes: Large hardcover with no writing or marks to text. Small star-shaped remainder mark stamped at bottom edge of book. Bottom of spine has been solidly bumped, leaving a small tear to both the surface of the spine and jacket. Light bumps to top cover corners and spine. Jacket has surface rubbing, a small puncture on front over hinge, and a 2 1/2" creased tear on top back at flap crease. In spite of its cosmetic flaws, the illustrations in this book are amazing, with more than 500 color plates and the text that originally accompanied them when first published. A wonderful resource for botanists and gardeners, as well as botanical illustrators. Not available for expedited or international shipping due to size and weight.

About the Book

Art in Nature brings together a superb selection of plants from all over the world in illustrations dating from the late eighteenth to the early twentieth centuries. These beautiful hand-colored plates, executed by such talented botanical artists as Sydenham Edwards, Walter Fitch and James Sowerby are taken from Curtis's Botanical Magazine, which is now The Kew Magazine. This publication holds a unique position among journals for the influence it has had on gardening, and has become renowned for its long history and the scientific accuracy of its illustrations.

Begun in 1787, The Botanical Magazine sought to popularize and encourage the cultivation of rare wild plants, by illustrating new and ornamental species that were being introduced into England. Many of these plants, which had been discovered by botanists and natural historians, such as John Tradescant, Mark Catesby and Francis Masson had never been described or named in any publication before. As new regions of the world were explored, the emphasis changed from plants discovered in the Americas to those of the Cape of Good Hope and India, and later the Far East. Therefore, The Botanical Magazine charts the developments of botanical exploration and changing interest in the wide range of flowers that grow in the gardens around us.

The majority of the plates are taken from the early years of the magazine when exploration was particularly concentrated on Europe and North America. There are, however, a vast array of flowers from all over the world. Many of these plants, which at that time were considered to be great rarities and only grown in the gardens of nurserymen and collectors, are non are best-loved garden plants, such as primulas, irises, gladioli, sweet peas and crocuses.