Items Similar to THORNTON. Group of Carnations
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5
Dr. Robert John ThorntonTHORNTON. Group of Carnations1799
1799
About the Item
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 became a Doctor of Medicine 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.
- Creator:Dr. Robert John Thornton (1768 - 1837, English)
- Creation Year:1799
- Dimensions:Height: 25.2 in (64 cm)Width: 20.48 in (52 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:1790-1799
- Condition:Framed and Glazed in a hand made frame. Overall dimensions: 64 x 52 cm.
- Gallery Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:
Dr. Robert John Thornton
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.
About the Seller
5.0
Vetted Seller
These experienced sellers undergo a comprehensive evaluation by our team of in-house experts.
Established in 1979
1stDibs seller since 2020
11 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: London, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- THORNTON. The RosesBy Dr. Robert John ThorntonLocated in London, GBMagnificent 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 Still-life Prints
MaterialsEngraving, Handmade Paper, Mezzotint, Aquatint
- THORNTON. The Tulips.By Dr. Robert John ThorntonLocated in London, GBAquatint 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 Still-life Prints
MaterialsEngraving, Handmade Paper, Aquatint, Mezzotint
- THORNTON. The Superb Lily.By Dr. Robert John ThorntonLocated in London, GBA 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 Still-life Prints
MaterialsEngraving, Handmade Paper, Aquatint, Mezzotint
- BROOKSHAW. A Pair of Melons: White Seed'd Rock and Silver Rock MellonBy George BrookshawLocated in London, GBPair of aquatints with stipple-engraving, printed in colours and finished by hand, made for Brookshaw's most famous work "Pomona Britannica" or a "Collection of the Most Esteemed Fru...Category
1810s Naturalistic Still-life Prints
MaterialsAquatint, Handmade Paper, Engraving
- Set of Four GourdsBy Johann Wilhelm WeinmannLocated in London, GBSet of 4 double-page mezzotint engravings, printed in colour and finished by hand. [Published: H. Lentz and H.G. Neubauer, Regensburg, 1737]. An attractive collection of fine plates...Category
1730s Naturalistic Still-life Prints
MaterialsHandmade Paper, Engraving, Mezzotint
- GALLESIO. A Group of Six Grapes.Located in London, GBSix hand-coloured plates of Grapes, printed in colour and finished by hand. Framed and glazed, overall size: 42.5 by 57.5cm. Pomona Italiana Ossia Trattato Degli Alberi Fruttiferi...Category
1810s Naturalistic Still-life Prints
MaterialsEngraving, Handmade Paper
You May Also Like
- "Amicua Melon" Hand Finished Color Engraving by George BrookshawBy George BrookshawLocated in Alamo, CAThis is a colored aquatint and stipple engraving finished by hand entitled "Amicua Melon", drawn and engraved by George Brookshaw and published in London in 1812 as plate LXXII in hi...Category
Early 19th Century Naturalistic Still-life Prints
MaterialsEngraving, Aquatint
- Silver Rock Melon: A Framed 19th C. Color Engraving by George BrookshawBy George BrookshawLocated in Alamo, CAThis is a 19th century colored aquatint and stipple engraving finished by hand entitled "Silver Rock Melon", drawn and engraved by George Brookshaw and published in London in 1812 as plate 67 in his 'Pomona Britannica; or, A Collection of the Most Esteemed Fruits'. It depicts a Silver Rock Melon still on the vine, but the melon lies on a heater green mat. A wedge of the melon has been dissected to reveal its inner anatomy, including the seeds. The melon skin is a heather and light green color, while the inner portions are a light peach color. The vine and leaves are shown attractive shades of light green and there are soft yellow flowers. The plant is displayed on a light brown textured background with shadows to impart 3-dimensionality. The scene is reminiscent of an engraving in an 18th century artistically stylized human anatomy atlas. There are wide white margins. The title and inscription lies within the lower border. This striking engraving is presented in a reddish brown decorative wood frame with a darker brown scroll-work outer trim and a gold-colored inner fillet and a thick heather green mat. The frame measures 25.75" high, 21.5" wide and 1.13" deep. It is glazed with UV conservation glass. There is a short thin vertical line of discoloration in the lower margin through the word "melon" and a tiny spot in the upper margin on the left. The print and frame are otherwise in excellent condition. There is a second Brookshaw engraving that is framed in identical moulding, although a slightly different size and a different color mat. t depicts a cluster of grapes. The two prints would make a striking display pairing...Category
Early 19th Century Naturalistic Still-life Prints
MaterialsEngraving, Aquatint
- White Hamburgh Grape: A Framed 19th C. Color Engraving by George BrookshawBy George BrookshawLocated in Alamo, CAThis is a 19th century colored aquatint and stipple engraving finished by hand entitled "White Hamburgh Grape", drawn and engraved by George Brookshaw and published in London in 1812 as plate 60 in his 'Pomona Britannica; or, A Collection of the Most Esteemed Fruits'. It depicts a cluster of pale green grapes still on the vine. The vine and leaves are shown in attractive shades of green and brown. The plant lays on a brown textured background with shadows to impart 3-dimensionality. The scene is reminiscent of an engraving in an 18th century artistically stylized human anatomy atlas. There is a light brown title rectangle in the lower center which is blank, suggesting this may be a more rare preproduction proof. There are wide white margins. This striking engraving is presented in a reddish brown decorative wood frame with a darker brown scroll-work outer trim and a gold-colored inner fillet and a thick light beige mat. The frame measures 26" high, 22" wide and 1.13" deep. It is glazed with UV conservation glass. There is a tiny spot in the lower margin on the left and another in the left margin. The print and frame are otherwise in excellent condition. There is a second Brookshaw engraving that is framed in identical moulding, although a slightly different size and a different color mat. It depicts a Silver Rock Melon. The two prints would make a striking display pairing...Category
Early 19th Century Naturalistic Still-life Prints
MaterialsEngraving, Aquatint
- Banana Plants: An 18th Century Hand-colored Botanical Engraving by J. WeinmannBy Johann Wilhelm WeinmannLocated in Alamo, CAThis is a striking original antique colored botanical mezzotint and line double page engraving of banana plants, which is finished with hand-coloring. It is entitled "Banana 1. Musa,...Category
Mid-18th Century Naturalistic Still-life Prints
MaterialsEngraving, Mezzotint
- Weinmann 18th Century Hand Colored Botanical Engraving "Horminum Peregrinum"By Johann Wilhelm WeinmannLocated in Alamo, CAAn 18th century hand colored botanical engraving by Johann Wilhelm Weinmann (1683-1741) depicting the following flowering sage plants: a. Horminum Peregrinum Foliis Salvice, b. Hormi...Category
Mid-18th Century Naturalistic Still-life Prints
MaterialsMezzotint, Engraving
- Weinmann 18th Century Hand Colored Botanical Engraving "Amaranthus seu Blitum"By Johann Wilhelm WeinmannLocated in Alamo, CAAn 18th century color printed in addition to hand colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving by Johann Wilhelm Weinmann (1683-1741) depicting the following flowering amaranthus p...Category
Mid-18th Century Naturalistic Still-life Prints
MaterialsMezzotint, Engraving
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Antique Group
Antique Groups
Antique Flower Stands
Antique Flower Prints
Antique Flower Print
Dr John
London Antique Handmade
Antique Botanical Illustrations
Used Medical Scale
Antique Carnations
Antique Carnation
Hand Painted Botanical Prints
Henry Russell
New England 1790
St Andrews
Habitat England
Framed Botanical Prints And Engravings
Mezzotint England