Botanical illustration of Lilium superbum

Botanical illustration is the art of depicting the form, color, and details of plant species, frequently in

watercolor Watercolor (American English) or watercolour (British English; see spelling differences), also ''aquarelle'' (; from Italian diminutive of Latin ''aqua'' "water"), is a painting method”Watercolor may be as old as art itself, going back to ...

paintings. They must be scientifically accurate but often also have an artistic component and may be printed with a botanical description in books, magazines, and other media or sold as a work of art. Often composed by a botanical illustrator in consultation with a scientific author, their creation requires an understanding of

plant morphology Phytomorphology is the study of the physical form and external structure of plants.Raven, P. H., R. F. Evert, & S. E. Eichhorn. ''Biology of Plants'', 7th ed., page 9. (New York: W. H. Freeman, 2005). . This is usually considered distinct from ...

and access to specimens and references. Typical illustrations are in watercolour, but may also be in oils, ink or pencil, or a combination of these. The image may be life size or not, the scale is often shown, and may show the habit and habitat of the plant, the upper and reverse sides of leaves, and details of flowers, bud, seed and root system. Botanical illustration is sometimes used as a

type Type may refer to: Science and technology Computing * Typing, producing text via a keyboard, typewriter, etc. * Data type, collection of values used for computations. * File type * TYPE (DOS command), a command to display contents of a file. * Ty ...

for attribution of a

botanical name A botanical name is a formal scientific name conforming to the ''International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants'' (ICN) and, if it concerns a plant cultigen, the additional cultivar or Group epithets must conform to the '' Inte ...

to a

taxon In biology, a taxon ( back-formation from '' taxonomy''; plural taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular n ...

. The inability of botanists to conserve certain dried specimens, or restrictions on safe transport, have meant illustrations have been nominated as the type for some names. Many minute plants, which may only be viewed under a microscope, are often identified by an illustration to overcome the difficulties in using slide mounted specimens. The standards for this are by international agreement (Art 37.5 of the Vienna Code, 2006).

History

Albrecht Dürer, Tuft of Cowslips, 1526, NGA 74162

Early herbals and

pharmacopoeia A pharmacopoeia, pharmacopeia, or pharmacopoea (from the obsolete typography ''pharmacopœia'', meaning "drug-making"), in its modern technical sense, is a book containing directions for the identification of compound medicines, and published by ...

of many cultures have included the depiction of plants. This was intended to assist identification of a species, usually with some medicinal purpose. The earliest surviving illustrated botanical work is the Codex vindobonensis. It is a copy of

Dioscorides Pedanius Dioscorides ( grc-gre, Πεδάνιος Διοσκουρίδης, ; 40–90 AD), “the father of pharmacognosy”, was a Greek physician, pharmacologist, botanist, and author of '' De materia medica'' (, On Medical Material) —a 5-vo ...

's ''

De Materia Medica (Latin name for the Greek work , , both meaning "On Medical Material") is a pharmacopoeia of medicinal plants and the medicines that can be obtained from them. The five-volume work was written between 50 and 70 CE by Pedanius Dioscorides, a ...

'', and was made in the year 512 for Juliana Anicia, daughter of the former Western Roman Emperor Olybrius. The problem of accurately describing plants between regions and languages, before the introduction of

taxonomy Taxonomy is the practice and science of categorization or classification. A taxonomy (or taxonomical classification) is a scheme of classification, especially a hierarchical classification, in which things are organized into groups or types. ...

, was potentially hazardous to medicinal preparations. The low quality of printing of early works sometimes presents difficulties in identifying the species depicted. When systems of

botanical nomenclature Botanical nomenclature is the formal, scientific naming of plants. It is related to, but distinct from taxonomy. Plant taxonomy is concerned with grouping and classifying plants; botanical nomenclature then provides names for the results of this ...

began to be published, the need for a drawing or painting became optional. However, it was at this time that the profession of botanical illustrator began to emerge. The finer detail of the printing processes, greatly improving in the eighteenth century, allowed artists such as Franz and

Ferdinand Bauer Ferdinand Lucas Bauer (20 January 1760 – 17 March 1826) was an Austrian botanical illustrator who travelled on Matthew Flinders' expedition to Australia. Biography Early life and career Bauer was born in Feldsberg in 1760, the youngest son o ...

to depict the minute aspects of the subject.

Illustration An illustration is a decoration, interpretation or visual explanation of a text, concept or process, designed for integration in print and digital published media, such as posters, flyers, magazines, books, teaching materials, animations, vide ...

s became more accurate in colour and detail. The increasing interest of amateur botanists, gardeners, and natural historians provided a market for botanical publications; the illustrations increased the appeal and accessibility of these to the general reader. The use of exploded details would further illustrate the description given in the accompanying text. These details allowed a non scientific audience to go some way in identifying the species, the widening interest in natural history and horticulture was an inducement to the production of many

flora Flora (: floras or florae) is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous (ecology), indigenous) native plant, native plants. The corresponding term for animals is ''fauna'', and for f ...

s and regular publications. The field guides, floras, catalogues and magazines produced since this time have continued to include illustrations. The development of photographic plates has not made illustration obsolete, despite the improvements in reproducing photographs in printed materials. A botanical illustrator is able to create a compromise of accuracy, an idealized image from several specimens, and the inclusion of the face and reverse of the features such as leaves. Additionally, details of sections can be given at a magnified scale and included around the margins around the image. Botanical illustration is a feature of many notable books on plants, a list of these would include: *

Vienna Dioscurides The Vienna Dioscurides or Vienna Dioscorides is an early 6th-century Byzantine Greek illuminated manuscript of an even earlier 1st century AD work, '' De materia medica'' (Περὶ ὕλης ἰατρικῆς : Perì hylēs iatrikēs in the orig ...

*''

Flora Graeca ''Flora Graeca'' is a publication of the plants of Greece in the late 18th century, resulting from a survey by John Sibthorp and Ferdinand Bauer. The botanical descriptions and illustrations became highly valued by the English audience; the fin ...

'' *''

The Banksias ''The Banksias'', by Celia Rosser, is a three-volume series of monographs containing paintings of every ''Banksia'' species. Its publication represented the first time such a large genus had been entirely painted by a single botanical artist. It ...

'' *''

The Cactaceae ''The Cactaceae'' is a monograph on plants of the cactus family written by the American botanists Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose and published in multiple volumes between 1919 and 1923. It was landmark study that extensively reor ...

'' Many books and publication continued to use illustrators even after printed matter began to incorporate photography. It would be many years before the colour printing would equal the illustrators plates. The accuracy and craft of the illustrators had developed in tandem with the botanists concerned, the work came to be accepted as important to the botanists and their institutions. The illustrated publication, ''

Curtis's Botanical Magazine ''The Botanical Magazine; or Flower-Garden Displayed'', is an illustrated publication which began in 1787. The longest running botanical magazine, it is widely referred to by the subsequent name ''Curtis's Botanical Magazine''. Each of the issue ...

'' (1787), was to eventually appoint an official artist. The 230-year-old magazine, long associated with the

Linnaean Society The Linnean Society of London is a learned society dedicated to the study and dissemination of information concerning natural history, evolution, and taxonomy. It possesses several important biological specimen, manuscript and literature colle ...

and

Kew Gardens Kew Gardens is a botanical garden, botanic garden in southwest London that houses the "largest and most diverse botany, botanical and mycology, mycological collections in the world". Founded in 1840, from the exotic garden at Kew Park, its li ...

, is now primarily one of finer botanical illustration. A stream of the finest illustrators to appear in print have been featured in the magazine. The contribution of botanical illustrators continues to be praised and sought and very fine examples continue to be produced. In the 1980s,

Celia Rosser Celia Elizabeth Rosser (born 1930) is an Australian botanical illustrator, best known for having published '' The Banksias'', a three-volume series of monographs containing watercolour paintings of every '' Banksia'' species. Born Celia Eli ...

undertook to illustrate every ''Banksia'' species for the masterwork, ''

''. When another species was described after its publication, ''

Banksia rosserae ''Banksia rosserae'' is a recently described species of '' Banksia''. Endemic to inland Western Australia, it is the only ''Banksia'' species to occur solely within the arid zone. Description ''B. rosserae'' grows as a multi-stemmed shru ...

'', it was named to honour her mammoth accomplishment. Other illustrators, such as the profuse

Matilda Smith Matilda Smith (1854–1926) was a botanical artist whose work appeared in ''Curtis's Botanical Magazine'' for over forty years. She became the first artist to depict New Zealand's flora in depth, the first official artist of the Royal Botani ...

, have been specifically honoured for this work. In 1972 the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...

hired its first botanical illustrator, Alice Tangerini. Recently, a renaissance has been occurring in botanical art and illustration. Organizations devoted to furthering the art form are found in the US ( American Society of Botanical Artists), UK (Society of Botanical Artists), Australia (Botanical Art Society of Australia), and South Africa (Botanical Artists Association of South Africa), among others. The reasons for this resurgence are many. In addition to the need for clear scientific illustration, botanical depictions continue to be one of the most popular forms of "wall art". There is an increasing interest in the changes occurring in the natural world and in the central role plants play in maintaining healthy ecosystems. A sense of urgency has developed in recording today's changing plant life for future generations. Working in media long understood provides confidence in the long-term conservation of the drawings, paintings, and etchings. Many artists are drawn to more traditional figurative work, and find plant depiction a perfect fit. Working with scientists, conservationists, horticulturists, and galleries locally and around the world, today's illustrators and artists are pushing the boundaries of what has traditionally been considered part of the genre.Ultimate Guide To Wall Art
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Notable botanical illustrators

Notable botanical illustrators include: * James Andrews *

George French Angas George French Angas (25 April 1822 – 4 October 1886), also known as G.F.A., was an English explorer, naturalist, painter and poet who emigrated to Australia. His paintings are held in a number of important Australian public art collections. ...

* Claude Aubriet * Alois Auer * Françoise Basseporte *

Franz Bauer __NOTOC__ Franz Andreas Bauer (later Francis) (14 March 1758 – 11 December 1840) was an Austrian microscopist and botanical artist. Born in Feldsberg, Lower Austria (now Valtice, Czech Republic), he was the son of Lucas Bauer (died 1761), ...

Elizabeth Blackwell Elizabeth Blackwell (3 February 182131 May 1910) was a British physician, notable as the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States, and the first woman on the Medical Register of the General Medical Council for the United K ...

* Harry Bolus * Priscilla Susan Bury *

Olivia Marie Braida-Chiusano Olivia Marie Braida-Chiusano (born 1948) is an American botanical artist, author, and educator. Business career Raised in New York City, Braida-Chiusano graduated from the State University of New York where she received a Bachelor of Science degr ...

Mark Catesby Mark Catesby (24 March 1683 – 23 December 1749) was an English naturalist who studied the flora and fauna of the New World. Between 1729 and 1747 Catesby published his ''Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands'', the fi ...

Lise Cloquet Lise Cloquet (also known as Anne-Louise Cloquet; 1788 (Paris) –30 October 1860 (Paris))

* Gillian Condy *

Léon Camille Marius Croizat Leon, Léon (French) or León (Spanish) may refer to: Places Europe * León, Spain, capital city of the Province of León * Province of León, Spain * Kingdom of León, an independent state in the Iberian Peninsula from 910 to 1230 and again fro ...

Catharina Helena Dörrien Catharina Helena Dörrien (1 March 1717, in Hildesheim – 8 June 1795, in Dillenburg) was a German botanist and teacher, recognized as "the most celebrated German-speaking female naturalist of the period". She was a talented artist who painted o ...

Atanasio Echeverria y Godoy Atanasio is a masculine given name which may refer to: *Atanasiu di Iaci (Atanasio in Italian), 13th century Italian Benedictine monk and historiographer *Atanasio Aguirre, President of Uruguay from 1864 to 1865 *Atanasio Bello Montero (1800–187 ...

* Sydenham Edwards *

Georg Dionysius Ehret Georg Dionysius Ehret (30 January 1708 – 9 September 1770) was a German botanist and entomologist known for his botanical illustrations. Life Ehret was born in Germany to Ferdinand Christian Ehret, a gardener and competent draughtsman, ...

* James Henry Emerton * Barbara Everard *

Walter Hood Fitch Walter Hood Fitch (28 February 1817 – 1892) was a botanical illustrator, born in Glasgow, Scotland, who executed some 10,000 drawings for various publications. His work in colour lithograph, including 2700 illustrations for ''Curtis's Bot ...

Barbara Jeppe Barbara Jeppe (21 May 1921 Pilgrim's Rest, Mpumalanga, Pilgrim's Rest – 20 June 1999 Johannesburg) was a South African botanical illustrator, botanical artist. Born in the mining town of Pilgrim's Rest, Mpumalanga, Pilgrim's Rest, she was th ...

* Martha King * Jacques le Moyne *

Dorothy van Dyke Leake Dorothy Van Dyke Leake (September 6, 1893 – July 23, 1990) was an American botanist, botanical illustrator, educator, writer and conservationist. In retirement, she became known for her efforts to preserve the Crane Creek area in northwest ...

* Cythna Letty *

Carl Axel Magnus Lindman Carl Axel Magnus Lindman (6 April 1856 in Halmstad – 21 June 1928) was a Swedish botanist and botanical artist, the son of Carl Christian Lindman and Sophie Fredrique Löhr. He is best known for his work "''Bilder ur Nordens Flora''" published ...

Margaret Mee Margaret Ursula Mee, MBE (22 May 1909 – 30 November 1988) was a British botanical artist who specialised in plants from the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest. She was also one of the first environmentalists to draw attention to the impact of large- ...

Maria Sibylla Merian Maria Sibylla Merian (2 April 164713 January 1717) was a German naturalist and scientific illustrator. She was one of the earliest European naturalists to observe insects directly. Merian was a descendant of the Frankfurt branch of the Swiss Meri ...

* Philippa Nikulinsky *

Marianne North Marianne North (24 October 1830 – 30 August 1890) was a prolific English Victorian biologist and botanical artist, notable for her plant and landscape paintings, her extensive foreign travels, her writings, her plant discoveries and th ...

* Pierre-Joseph Redouté *

Sarah Rhodes Sarah Rhodes (1787 Leeds – 1862 Roundhay, Leeds), was an English amateur botanical artist who used watercolours and gouache on vellum to produce unusual plant images. Rhodes was the second daughter of Matthew Rhodes (1751–1802), a wool mercha ...

Lewis Roberts Lewis Roberts may refer to: * Lewis Roberts (snooker player) (born 1985), English snooker player * Lewis Roberts (naturalist) (born 1950), naturalist and botanical illustrator * Lewis Roberts, British electronic musician known by the stage name Kore ...

Ellis Rowan Marian Ellis Rowan (30 July 18484 October 1922), known as Ellis Rowan, was a well-known Australian artist and botanical illustrator. She also did a series of illustrations on birds, butterflies and insects. Life Marian, the daughter of Mari ...

* Vera Scarth-Johnson * Dorothea Eliza Smith *

* Lilian Snelling *

Gerard van Spaendonck Gerard van Spaendonck (22 March 1746 – 11 May 1822) was a Dutch painter. Life Gerard was born in Tilburg, an older brother of Cornelis van Spaendonck (1756–1840), who was also an accomplished artist. In the 1760s he studied with decorative ...

* James Sowerby *

Sydney Parkinson Sydney Parkinson (c. 1745 – 26 January 1771) was a Scottish botanical illustrator and natural history artist. He was the first European artist to visit Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti. Parkinson was the first Quaker to visit New Zealand. ...

* Alice Tangerini *

Frances Elizabeth Tripp Frances Elizabeth Tripp (1 August 1832 – 26 December 1890) was a British bryologist, botanical illustrator, philanthropist and writer. She is best known for her two volume work ''British Mosses, their homes, aspects, structures and uses' ...

* Elizabeth Twining *

Pierre Jean François Turpin Pierre Jean François Turpin (11 March 1775, Vire – 1 May 1840) was a French botanist and illustrator. He is considered one of the greatest floral and botanical illustrators during the Napoleonic Era and afterwards. As an artist, Turpin was large ...

Ellaphie Ward-Hilhorst Johanna Ellaphie Ward-Hilhorst (10 July 1920 Pretoria – 30 June 1994 Cape Town) was a South African botanical artist. She received her early education in Pretoria. After matriculating from Pretoria Girls' High School she started work in 1939 ...

The Linnaean Society of London awards the Jill Smythies Award for botanical illustration.

References

External links

{{Commonscat
American Society of Botanical Artists
* ttp://www.botanicalartsocietyaustralia.com Botanical Art Society of Australiabr>Botanical Drawings of carnivorous plants from the John Innes Centre Historical CollectionPlantillustrations.org: searchable database of historic illustrationsBotany.si.edu: online Smithsonian catalogueFlora of New Granada (Colombia) Drawings online, from the Royal Botanical Expedition led by Jose Celestino Mutis University of Delaware: 'The Art of Botanical Illustration' exhibit
01 . Illustration Botany

History

Notable botanical illustrators

See also

References

Further reading

External links