Botanical Riches: Stories of Botanical Exploration - Hardcover

Hacking, Juliet

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0853319553 ISBN 13: 9780853319559

Publisher: Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd, 2006

Synopsis

The botanical riches of this book are twofold. This is firstly a book about plants themselves, and the story of their exploration, appreciation, introduction and exploitation through the ages. But it is equally about the collective library of books that document this botanical exploration and appreciation of plants, and the history and craft of botanical illustration. Richard Aitken brings his wide expertise in garden history to this highly illustrated book. He traces man's gradual realisation of the potential of plants for medicinal, nutritional, flavouring and decorative purposes from the ancient and classical worlds, through to the Renaissance and the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, to today. Entire mercantile societies revolved around the trade in spices, oils and fruit and vegetables, making those in possession of such natural resources extremely wealthy. "Botanical Riches" is magnificently illustrated with some of the world's most glorious engraved, lithographed and hand-coloured botanical illustrations. From the earliest Renaissance herbals to the elaborate and beautiful volumes from the golden age of printing, books celebrating plants from far-off lands brought with them a sense of wonder. "Botanical Riches" relies on the fusion of nature and culture, art, history and botanical observation. Its apt and generous illustrations complement a lively and gripping tale.

About this title

About the Author

Richard Aitken is a writer, architect, curator and historian who has edited the Oxford Companion to Australian Gardens. A founder member of the Australian Garden History Society, he has written and lectured on garden history. He has also prepared conservation plans for gardens in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

Edition details

• Publisher: Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0853319553
• ISBN 13: 9780853319559
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256