Botanical Art PDF

WORLD ART FACTSHEET Botanical Art During the late 18th century and the 19th century, there was an explosion of global plant exchange – it was an age of discovery – and scientists in Europe were very curious about many new plants that they were discovering for the first time. Botanists became very a...

WORLD ART FACTSHEET Botanical Art During the late 18th century and the 19th century, there was an explosion of global plant exchange – it was an age of discovery – and scientists in Europe were very curious about many new plants that they were discovering for the first time. Botanists became very adventurous and they would often go on expeditions to different part of the world to find new species of beautiful and strange plants. This is when botany experienced its Golden Age, which included the creation of Botanical Gardens and the development of Botanical Art for botanical books and magazines. Before the camera was invented, drawings and paintings were the only way that the world around us could be captured. So many scientists become artists too; botanists became botanical artists, also called botanical illustrators. From 17th century to today, many great and talented botanical artists from various countries have amazed us with their detailed artwork ; notably Maria Sibylla Merian (Switzerland, 17-18th c.), Georg D Ehret (Germany,18th c.), Pierre-Joseph Redouté (Belgium, 18-19th c.), Margaret Mee and Lilian Snelling (Britain, 20th c.) In India, during the 19th century, botanists commissioned local artists like Sheikh Zain al- Din, Bhawani Das, Rungiah, Vishnupersaud, Gorachand, Ramchand, Manu Lall, and others unnamed, who produced hundreds of wonderful botanical art. Most astounding is the fact that they would create their own colours from local plants and minerals: burnt rice for black, turmeric for yellow, extracts of leaves for green, indigo for blue, hibiscus flowers for red – this traditional method is still used by contemporary artist Mahaveer Swami (botanical and miniature artist from Rajasthan). Melastrina dodecandra by Heliconia by Margaret Mee Imperial crown by Pierre-Joseph Vishnuprasad (1823) (1964) Redouté (1827) BOTANICAL ART 1 Artist Focus 1 - Georg Dionysius Ehret Germany 18th century Georg D Ehret went from being a gardener to being one of the most influential botanical artists of all time. Working with botanist, Carl Linnaeus, he produced hundreds of high quality illustrations with the Linnaean approach to botanical illustration, which brings the focus from the whole plant to the flower or the flower and fruit. By 1750 he was the leading botanical artist in Europe. Artist Focus 2 - Marianne North United Kingdom 19th century Marianne North was a plant hunter and prolific botanical painter. From a young age she showed to have talent for painting and during her youth she used to spend time at Kew Botanical gardens, where she developed a love for exotic flowers and tropical plants. Despite the difficulties in travelling, especially as a woman in those days, in the space of only a few years, she had travelled to 17 countries, 6 continents, and painted over 800 botanical artworks! Artist Focus 3 - Nirupa Rao India 21st Century One of the most fascinating botanical artist of India is a young artist by the name of Nirupa Rao. Her passion is for everyone to re-connect to nature. She has collaborated on several environmental and conservation projects, including developing interest and awareness in the rural children of India. BOTANICAL ART 2