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Plants and flowers have always captured man's imagination, with their delicate harmonies and the perfection of their symmetrical forms. Over the centuries, the world of plants has stirred the aesthetic sense of many artists, who have approached the representation of the natural world with creative spirit. Art merged with science when man began to investigate Nature and her secrets with a critical spirit; botany and art then blended in a union that resulted in any number of splendid masterpieces. Guided by the accuracy of their observation, but also by a sense of wonder at the beauty of these botanical specimens, some of the greatest illustrators of the past have left us marvellous coloured images that portray the amazing wealth of the world's flora, from the most common species to the rarest varieties scattered in remote corners of the planet. This splendidly illustrated volume will guide the reader in discovering the golden era of botanical art. It is a journey through the centuries that illuminates the evolution of the techniques and the styles, and it offers a panorama of the most important artists who have captured the pure essence of the plant world, conveying its beauty to paper. Ranging from the first herbals dating from the Middle Ages to the florilegia that illustrate the species associated with specific regions or habitats, or from the artists who accompanied the great expeditions to every corner of the world.
Anna Laurent is an award-winning flora-focused author & artist. Her first book, The Botanical Wall Chart: Art from the Golden Age of Scientific Discovery, published by Ilex Publishers in 2016, explores 19th century educational classroom boards with research conducted in Prague, Berlin, London, Cambridge, and elsewhere. Organized by plant family, the book emulates a Victorian classroom while providing biographies of renowned illustrators and scientists. Previously, she was a contributing editor at Garden Design, where she wrote about the history of botanic illustration. Her forthcoming work will be featured in a new exhibition at Royal Botanic Garden Kew, London, and her award-winning `Dispersal' photography series has exhibited across the United States.
