The Art of Botanical Illustration - Hardcover

Wilfred Blunt; William T. Stearn

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1851497609 ISBN 13: 9781851497607

Publisher: Antique Collectors' Club, 2015

Synopsis

This major work, first published in 1950, is still considered the classic work on the subject. The book was revised and enlarged by ACC in the year 2000, and published to overwhelming acclaim; this is a reprint of that edition. It provides a comprehensive, critical and well illustrated survey of the portrayal of plants through more than three thousand years.

Of the first edition, the poet and gardening writer, Vita Sackville-West, after referring in The Observer to the wealth of illustration and the fascination of the text, then 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'.

Wilfrid Blunt, an artist himself, brought to it a craftsman's appreciation and knowledge gained from experience, the extensive literature and visits to many galleries on the Continent. William T. Stearn gave him much help on botanical, biographical and bibliographical matters and contributed part of the text.

Professor Stearn has revised and enlarged this classic work and greatly extended the chapter on the twentieth century. This edition includes 126 colour plates (more than twice as many as the original 1950 edition) and 140 black and white illustrations, thus making available to the general public numerous examples of the work of great botanical illustrators past and present.

About this title

Review:

One of the attractions of this voluminous book is its varying approach to the long and somewhat complex history of botanical illustration going back to the herbals and other illustrated books of antiquity keeping the material fresh and engaging. And all along, there are those handsome, fetching illustrations, especially the color ones. --Henry Berry"

This Splendid volume encompasses the whole of the history of the subject from some of man's earliest representations of plants to the late 20th century, concentrating largely on European works from medieval times on-wards. --Claire Dalby, The Rock Garden 137

About the Author:

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 twenty-five books.

William Stearn (b.1911) has had an almost lifelong interest in botanical illustration. His numerous publications include 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.

About this edition

• Publisher: Antique Collectors' Club
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1851497609
• ISBN 13: 9781851497607
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 368