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.

Artist: Dr. Robert John Thornton

Dr. Robert John ThorntonAgave or American Aloe: A Framed Hand-colored Engraving from Robert Thornton, 1811

$1,775

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

Engraving, Mezzotint

Judith RothchildRio Osmarin (boats on the canal Rio de S. Provolo o de l'Osmarin, Venice), 2004

$285

H 6.75 in W 5 in

Rio Osmarin (boats on the canal Rio de S. Provolo o de l'Osmarin, Venice)

By Judith Rothchild

Located in New Orleans, LA

Rio Osmarin shows boats on the canal Rio de S. Provolo o de l'Osmarin in Venice) It was created in 2006 and this impression is #31 of 75 It is signed, titled, numbered and dated by...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples

Materials

Mezzotint

Frederick MershimerStill Night (spooky Brooklyn brownstones on 7th Ave off Flatbush Ave), 1989

$3,000

H 13.63 in W 21.75 in

Still Night (spooky Brooklyn brownstones on 7th Ave off Flatbush Ave)

By Frederick Mershimer

Located in New Orleans, LA

In "Still Night", Frederick Mershimer depicts a row of brownstone houses on Seventh Avenue near Flatbush Avenue between Park and Stirling Places. Mershimer remembers that as he was ...

Category

1980s American Modern Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples

Materials

Mezzotint

Frederick MershimerDestinations (Flatiron Bidg, 5th Avenue and Broadway at 23rd Street), 1997

$2,500

H 11.57 in W 9.63 in

Destinations (Flatiron Bidg, 5th Avenue and Broadway at 23rd Street)

By Frederick Mershimer

Located in New Orleans, LA

In "Destinations", Frederick Mershimer creates an image of taxis rushing by the Fuller Building, better known as Flatiron Building. The building is only six feet wide at its rounded...

Category

1990s Contemporary Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples

Materials

Mezzotint, Aquatint

Euphorbia, German antique botanical plant chromolithograph print, 1895

$50

H 9.45 in W 6.11 in

Euphorbia, German antique botanical plant chromolithograph print

Located in Melbourne, Victoria

'Euphorbiaceen' (Euphorbia) German chromolithograph, circa 1895. 240mm by 155mm (sheet)

Category

Late 19th Century Naturalistic Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples

Materials

Lithograph

Jacob CrookDrift Mezzotint Print, American Modern, 2010s, #3 of 10, Unframed, 2019

$700

H 12 in W 18 in

Drift Mezzotint Print, American Modern, 2010s, #3 of 10, Unframed

By Jacob Crook

Located in New Orleans, LA

Drift is a hand-pulled mezzotint in an edition of 10. This is #3/10. Location is Jarnigan ST in Starksville, Mississippi Jacob Crook was born in St. Loui...

Category

2010s American Modern Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples

Materials

Mezzotint

Frederick MershimerPlymouth Street ( a twilight scene is set in the Brooklyn section of DUMBO), 1990

$2,000

H 8.69 in W 6.07 in

Plymouth Street ( a twilight scene is set in the Brooklyn section of DUMBO)

By Frederick Mershimer

Located in New Orleans, LA

This view of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges is looking down "Plymouth Street" to the intersection of Jay Street. It is #35 in the catalogue raisonne by Retif & Salzer and is in the permanent collection of the Museum of City of New York...

Category

1990s Contemporary Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples

Materials

Mezzotint, Aquatint

Frederick MershimerPylon (Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan side of East River near South St. Seaport), 2001

$4,000

H 11.57 in W 8.25 in

Pylon (Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan side of East River near South St. Seaport)

By Frederick Mershimer

Located in New Orleans, LA

A "Pylon" of the Brooklyn Bridge with the Manhattan Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge visible in the background is captured in this powerful image by Frederick Mershimer. It is #77 in t...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples

Materials

Mezzotint

Frederick MershimerLate Night (Where Berkeley Place meets Seventh Avenue in Brooklyn's Park Slope), 1998

$1,100

H 6.75 in W 5.07 in

Late Night (Where Berkeley Place meets Seventh Avenue in Brooklyn's Park Slope)

By Frederick Mershimer

Located in New Orleans, LA

In "Late Night", Frederick Mershimer created a winter scene where Berkeley Place meets Seventh Avenue in Brooklyn's Park Slope. This image, the seventh in t...

Category

1990s Contemporary Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples

Materials

Mezzotint, Aquatint

Marjan SeyedinHiboux et Chouettes #10, portrait of an owl by Marjan Seyedin, 2016

$400Sale Price|20% Off

H 16 in W 12 in

Hiboux et Chouettes #10, portrait of an owl by Marjan Seyedin

By Marjan Seyedin

Located in Palm Springs, CA

Medium: aquatint and drypoint Year: 2016 Edition of 21 Image Size: 16 × 12 inches Portrait of a plump and possibly perplexed owl in a nocturnal setting, by Franco-Iranian artist M...

Category

2010s Contemporary Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples

Materials

Drypoint, Aquatint

Frederick MershimerNew York Stock Exchange (Symbolic icon of Wall St.'s vast power and wealth), 1989

$2,500

H 17.5 in W 13.19 in

New York Stock Exchange (Symbolic icon of Wall St.'s vast power and wealth)

By Frederick Mershimer

Located in New Orleans, LA

This color intaglio of the "New York Stock Exchange" was issued in a limited edition of 100. This impression is one of the Artist Proofs from the edition. The Stock Exchange is seen from Federal Hall...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples

Materials

Mezzotint, Aquatint

Frederick MershimerChristmas Pine Cones, festive printed image has the feel of a watercolor wash., 1991

$90

H 5 in W 3.25 in

Christmas Pine Cones, festive printed image has the feel of a watercolor wash.

By Frederick Mershimer

Located in New Orleans, LA

This Holiday wreath adorns the door of a Brooklyn Mansion Frederick Mershimer (American, b. 1958) Moody, mysterious, majestic – these are some of the ways to describe the mezzotint...

Category

1990s American Modern Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples

Materials

Mezzotint

Robert KipnissChair & Rooftop Mezzotint Print, Signed, Edition 27/30, Modern, 2015, 2015

$1,000

H 12.5 in W 12.75 in D 0.96 in

Chair & Rooftop Mezzotint Print, Signed, Edition 27/30, Modern, 2015

By Robert Kipniss

Located in New York, NY

“Chair & rooftop” is a mezzotint engraving created by Robert Kipniss in 2015. Printed in an edition of 30 this impression is signed in pencil and inscribed "27/30." The paper size i...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples

Materials

Mezzotint

Previously Available Items

Dr. Robert John ThorntonAnatomy of the Dragon Arum & Anatomy of the Queen Flower 1804 by Dr. R.Thornton, 1804

Sold

H 19.5 in W 13.5 in

Anatomy of the Dragon Arum & Anatomy of the Queen Flower 1804 by Dr. R.Thornton

By Dr. Robert John Thornton

Located in Paonia, CO

Anatomy of the Dragon Arum & Anatomy of the Queen Flower 1804 by Dr. Robert Thornton from A New Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus by Thornton [The Genera of Exotic and Indigenous Plants that are to be met with in Great Britain; arranged according to the reformed system, by Thornton] The Temple of Flora 1787-1810. An offshoot of his larger masterpiece of the same title, Thornton attempted to explain Linnaean botany, as well as expound upon his own botanical theories. The work celebrates great contemporary and historical botanists and their supporters and also includes plates of many cross-sections of plant stems. Cf. Nissen BBI 1955. Both the Anatomy of the Dragon Arum and the Anatomy of the Queen flower are illustrated by Peter Charles Henderson . They are in good condition with a few small marginal tears repaired at edges and minor age appropriate foxing. These prints are professionally and beautifully hand colored. Dr. Robert John Thornton ( 1768 -1837 ) was an English physician and botanical writer and a member of the University of Cambridge and the Royal London College of Physicians. He had a great love of botany and is best known for the his dramatic large folio plates of The Temple of Flora published in 1799. Complete volumes and even individual prints of The Temple of Flora are rare and found in the rare book rooms...

Category

Early 1800s Realist Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples

Materials

Engraving

Dr. Robert John ThorntonThe Sacred Egyptian Bean, Circa 1804

Sold

H 24 in W 19.25 in D 0.75 in

The Sacred Egyptian Bean

By Dr. Robert John Thornton

Located in New York, NY

This graphic hand colored engraving was realized by the botanist/physician Dr. Robert John Thornton, circa 1804. It features the leaves and flowers of the Egyptian bean plant with t...

Category

19th Century Romantic Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples

Materials

Paper, Archival Ink

Dr. Robert John ThorntonTHE DRAGON ARUM, 1801

Sold

H 18.75 in W 14.125 in

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

Dr. Robert John ThorntonWHITE LILY, circa 1800

Sold

H 20.875 in W 15.75 in

WHITE LILY

By Dr. Robert John Thornton

Located in Santa Monica, CA

DR. ROBERT JOHN THORNTON (circa 1768- 1837) THE WHITE LILY with Variegated Leaves, 1800 (iv/iv) Aquatint, etching and original hand coloring from Thornton's ‘Tem...

Category

Early 1800s Old Masters Dr. Robert John Thornton Prints and Multiples

Materials

Aquatint

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.