Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples
English, 1768-1837
Robert John Thornton (1765-1832) was attracted to natural history at an early edge and created his own botanical garden and an aviary as a boy. He graduated from Cambridge with a medical degree and set up practice as a London. He inherited his family fortune in 1797, which allowed Thornton the opportunity to devote time to his lifelong goal of creating an extensive scholarly work dedicated to the great classical Swedish naturalist, Carolus Von Linnaeus (1707-1778), also known as Carl von Linné, who developed a system for the classification of plants and animals, and is known as the father of taxonomy. Thornton's goal was to exceed any previous publication produced in any European country in terms of the scope of the project, the quality of the illustrations and the paper, as well as the beauty of the landscapes depicted as backgrounds for the plants. Thornton was the first person to incorporate landscape backgrounds with his botanical subjects. He wanted for the publication to be of both academic importance as well as artistic beauty. He dedicated his work and subsequent publication "The Temple of Flora; or Garden of Nature Picturesque Botanical Plates of the New Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus" to Queen Charlotte. Thornton opened an art gallery to display the paintings from which the prints were made and as a place to sell subscriptions to the forthcoming books. Queen Charlotte, the Prince Regent, and the Emperor of Russia received copies of the book. Although the publication was not successful financially for Thornton, the stylization of the illustrated flowers and their historical, allegorical and fanciful backgrounds led to The Temple of Flora being considered one of the greatest botanical books of all time.(Biography provided by Timeless Intaglio)
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Artist: Dr. Robert John Thornton
The Nodding Renealmia from Temple of Flora
By Dr. Robert John Thornton
Located in New York, NY
"The Queen Flower" by Dr. Robert Thornton from the quarto edition of "Temple of Flora." London, 1812. Mixed media engraving (aquatint, mezzotint, color...
Category
1810s Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples
Materials
Paper
THORNTON. The Superb Lily.
By Dr. Robert John Thornton
Located in London, GB
A magnificent print by Robert John Thornton; aquatint and mezzotint, printed in colour and finished by hand, heightened with gum arabic, from The Temple of Flora...
Category
1790s Naturalistic Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples
Materials
Engraving, Handmade Paper, Aquatint, Mezzotint
Group of Carnations from Temple of Flora
By Dr. Robert John Thornton
Located in New York, NY
"Group of Carnations" by Dr. Robert Thornton from the quarto edition of "Temple of Flora." London, 1812. Mixed media engraving (aquatint, mezzotint, co...
Category
1810s Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples
Materials
Paper
Agave or American Aloe: A Framed Hand-colored Engraving from Robert Thornton
By Dr. Robert John Thornton
Located in Alamo, CA
This is a framed hand-colored botanical engraving entitled "Agave or American Aloe" by Reinagle for Robert Thornton's publication 'The Temple of Flora, or Garden of the Botanist, Poet, Painter and Philosopher', published in London in 1811. This beautiful botanical was created using several engraving techniques, including aquatint, mezzotint, stipple and line engraving methods. It was printed in color and then finished by hand.
The print is presented in a gold-colored wood frame and a heather green mat, which is enhanced with a gold fillet. The frame measures 21.63" high by 16.63" wide and 1" deep. It is glazed with UV conservation glass. All of the mounting materials are archival. The original text page from the early 19th century publication is attached to the rear of the frame. The print is in excellent condition.
Robert John Thornton (1765-1832) was attracted to natural history at an early edge and created his own botanical garden and an aviary as a boy. He graduated from Cambridge with a medical degree and set up practice as a London. He inherited his family fortune in 1797, which allowed Thornton the opportunity to devote time to his lifelong goal of creating an extensive scholarly work dedicated to the great classical Swedish naturalist, Carolus Von Linnaeus (1707-1778), also known as Carl von Linné...
Category
Early 19th Century Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples
Materials
Mezzotint, Engraving
THE DRAGON ARUM
By Dr. Robert John Thornton
Located in Santa Monica, CA
DR. ROBERT JOHN THORNTON (circa 1768- 1837)
THE DRAGON ARUM, 1801 (Dunthorne plate 161, pg. 250 i/iii; Nissen 1
955)
Mezzotint printed in Payne's grey...
Category
Early 1800s Old Masters Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples
Materials
Mezzotint
THORNTON. Group of Carnations
By Dr. Robert John Thornton
Located in London, GB
Magnificent print by Robert John Thornton; aquatint and mezzotint, printed in colour and finished by hand, heightened with gum arabic, from The Temple of Flora.
[London 1799]
First ...
Category
1790s Naturalistic Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples
Materials
Engraving, Handmade Paper, Aquatint, Mezzotint
THORNTON. The Tulips.
By Dr. Robert John Thornton
Located in London, GB
Aquatint and mezzotint, printed in colours and finished by hand, heightened with gum arabic, from The Temple of Flora. Framed and glazed.
London, 1...
Category
1790s Naturalistic Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples
Materials
Engraving, Handmade Paper, Aquatint, Mezzotint
THORNTON. The Roses
By Dr. Robert John Thornton
Located in London, GB
Magnificent print by Robert John Thornton. Aquatint and mezzotint, printed in colour and finished by hand, heightened with gum arabic, from The Temple of Flora.
[London 1799]
First state.
Thornton was a prolific medical author and Doctor of Medicine, practicing at St Andrews University and licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians. However, he is best remembered for this great botanical publication The Temple of Flora, which formed a part of the larger work - New Illustration of the Sexual system of Linnaeus.
In 1797, he also began advertising for subscribers to his planned natural history publishing venture, which eventually comprised of 30 folio botanical plates. For these remarkable illustrations, he engaged the services of the leading artists and engravers of his day: Sir William Beechey, James Opie, Henry Raeburn, John Russell, Philip Reinagle and others as painters; Francesco Bartolozzi, Richard Earlom and John Landseer. Most of the images were painted by Peter Charles Henderson and Philip Reinagle.
These botanical illustrations are unique as they were the first flower prints with landscape backgrounds, depicting the natural habitat of the plant. The life-size flowers stand out dramatically and the whole effect is startlingly modern. Thornton's announced intention was to make this work the most magnificent tribute ever paid to the famous Swedish botanist Linnaeus by illustrating his Sexual System with the finest possible prints. All these were engraved on a larger scale than anything which had hitherto appeared and then were printed in colour, an expensive and uncommon method in England at this time. A brilliant effect.
This rare and celebrated plate of the Roses...
Category
1790s Naturalistic Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples
Materials
Engraving, Handmade Paper, Mezzotint, Aquatint
Indian Reed (Cana)
By Dr. Robert John Thornton
Located in Florham Park, NJ
DR. ROBERT JOHN THORNTON (c1765 – 1832).
The Temple of Flora.
London, 1798-1810.
Painted by Reinagle, Henderson, Pether, et. al.
Engraved by Ward, Caldwall, Earlom, et. al.
A...
Category
Early 19th Century Academic Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples
Materials
Engraving
The Queen Flower (Bird of Paradise)
By Dr. Robert John Thornton
Located in Florham Park, NJ
DR. ROBERT JOHN THORNTON (c1765 – 1832).
The Temple of Flora.
London, 1798-1810.
Painted by Reinagle, Henderson, Pether, et. al.
Engraved by Ward, Caldwall, Earlom, et. al.
A...
Category
18th Century and Earlier Academic Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples
Materials
Engraving, Aquatint
The China Limodoron (Orchid)
By Dr. Robert John Thornton
Located in Florham Park, NJ
DR. ROBERT JOHN THORNTON (c1765 – 1832).
The Temple of Flora.
London, 1798-1810.
Painted by Reinagle, Henderson, Pether, et. al.
Engraved by Ward, Caldwall, Earlom, et. al.
A...
Category
Early 19th Century Academic Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples
Materials
Engraving, Watercolor, Mezzotint, Aquatint
Dragon Arum
By Dr. Robert John Thornton
Located in Florham Park, NJ
DR. ROBERT JOHN THORNTON (c1765 – 1832).
The Temple of Flora… (Lottery Edition).
London, 1812.
Painted by Reinagle, Henderson, Pether, et. al.
Engraved by Gaugain, Dunkarton, ...
Category
Early 19th Century Academic Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples
Materials
Watercolor, Silk, Rag Paper, Plexiglass, Handmade Paper, Archival Tape, ...
The Blue Passion Flower
By Dr. Robert John Thornton
Located in Florham Park, NJ
DR. ROBERT JOHN THORNTON (c1765 – 1832).
The Temple of Flora.
London, 1798-1810.
Painted by Reinagle, Henderson, Pether, et. al.
Engraved by Ward, Caldwall, Earlom, et. al.
A...
Category
Early 19th Century Academic Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples
Materials
Aquatint, Watercolor, Archival Paper, Archival Tape, Engraving, Handmade...
Oblique-leaved Begonia
By Dr. Robert John Thornton
Located in Florham Park, NJ
This piece would pair well with Thornton's "Hyacinths" which is also listed.
DR. ROBERT JOHN THORNTON (c1765 – 1832).
The Temple of Flora.
London, 17...
Category
Early 19th Century Academic Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples
Materials
Silk, Archival Paper, Archival Tape, Handmade Paper, Laid Paper, Plexigl...
Agave or American Aloe
By Dr. Robert John Thornton
Located in Florham Park, NJ
DR. ROBERT JOHN THORNTON (c1765 – 1832).
The Temple of Flora… (Lottery Edition).
London, 1812.
Painted by Reinagle, Henderson, Pether, et. al.
Eng...
Category
Early 19th Century Academic Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples
Materials
Watercolor, Archival Paper, Archival Tape, Gesso, Handmade Paper, Plexig...
The Blue Passion Flower
By Dr. Robert John Thornton
Located in Florham Park, NJ
DR. ROBERT JOHN THORNTON (c1765 – 1832).
The Temple of Flora.
London, 1798-1810.
Painted by Reinagle, Henderson, Pether, et. al.
Engraved by Ward, Caldwall, Earlom, et. al.
Aq...
Category
18th Century and Earlier Academic Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples
Materials
Engraving, Watercolor
The Superb Lily
By Dr. Robert John Thornton
Located in Florham Park, NJ
DR. ROBERT JOHN THORNTON (c1765 – 1832).
The Temple of Flora.
London, 1798-1810.
Painted by Reinagle, Henderson, Pether, et. al.
Engraved by Ward, Caldwall, Earlom, et. al.
A...
Category
18th Century and Earlier Academic Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples
Materials
Archival Paper, Watercolor, Archival Tape, Engraving, Gesso, Handmade Pa...
The Narrow-Leaved Kalmia (Mountain Laurel)
By Dr. Robert John Thornton
Located in Florham Park, NJ
DR. ROBERT JOHN THORNTON (c1765 – 1832).
The Temple of Flora.
London, 1798-1810.
Painted by Reinagle, Henderson, Pether, et. al.
Engraved by Ward, Caldwall, Earlom, et. al.
A...
Category
18th Century and Earlier Academic Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples
Materials
Aquatint, Watercolor, Mezzotint, Engraving
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2018
'Coastal Colonies'
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2017
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2016
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Guido & Schoen Arte Contemponania (Genoa, Italy)
2016
‘Massimo Vitali’
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2016
‘Massimo Vitali’
Ronchini Gallery (London, UK)
2015
‘New Prints’
Hilger Next (Vienna, Austria)
2014
‘Massimo Vitali’
Studio La Citta (Verona, Italy)
2014
‘Into The White’
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2014
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2013
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Dr. Robert John Thornton prints and multiples for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Dr. Robert John Thornton prints and multiples available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Dr. Robert John Thornton in engraving, paper, handmade paper and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 19th century and is mostly associated with the Old Masters style. Not every interior allows for large Dr. Robert John Thornton prints and multiples, so small editions measuring 11 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of george brookshaw, Maria Sybilla Merian, and George Edwards. Dr. Robert John Thornton prints and multiples prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $716 and tops out at $17,343, while the average work can sell for $7,216.
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