Australia: 300 Years of Botanical Illustration
A magnificent overview of the way Australian plants have been depicted over the past three centuries.
Reprinted due to popular demand, Australia: 300 Years of Botanical Illustration tells the story of the European discovery and exploration of Australia, the collection and classification of plants for science, and the establishment of botanic gardens, herbaria and publications within the country. Intertwined with this is the history of the art of illustrating plants linked to the methods of reproducing those illustrations. + Full description
The book is richly illustrated with more than 160 colour illustrations drawn from major herbaria and museums in both Europe and Australia.
- Short descriptionNews
This title is now out of print.
Reviews
"Every now and again, we receive a book that is extremely special – a work of art. In this case, a work of botanical art. Such a book is Australia: 300 Years of Botanical Illustration, by Dr Helen Hewson."
John Thompson (The Weekly Times, 16 February 2000)
“It’s a book of superb quality, this, with some 160 colour illustrations drawn from many sources in Europe and Australia.”
Noel Shaw (The Examiner, Tasmania, 19 February 2000)
"A beautiful pictorial account of the artistic richness of Australia."
Taxon, Feb 2001
“An enlightening and informative account of the history of illustration of Australian plants. Hewson weaves a tantalising story of science, art, history, exploration and adventure, that keeps the reader enthralled, eagerly seeking out the illustrations for the examples that relate to the text.”
Andrew Drinnan (Annals of Botany 87, 2001)
“This a beautifully presented volume. It is generously illustrated using fine examples of botanical drawing and painting tracing the development of this art form as it has been applied to the Australian flora.”
Carrick Chambers, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney (Historical Records of Australian Science v.13 no.3)
“This is not only a very beautiful book, rich in the finest examples of the botanical illustrators art, it is also a valuable overview of the history of botany in Australia. …This is a superbly produced book.”
Ed Duyker (Sutherland Shire Historical Society Bulletin v.4 no.4 November 2001)
Joint Review of Feather and Brush: Three Centuries of Australian Bird Art and Australia: 300 Years of Botanical Illustation
“. . . show how explorers, convicts, naval draftsmen, naturalists, scientists and artists, have shaped the history of collecting, recording and classifying Australian plants and birds. . . Using mere words, I shall not attempt to convey the beauty of the illustrations. . . great present for anyone interested in Australia's remarkable flora and fauna. And they should be in every Australian library."
Linden Gillbank, University of Melbourne, Australia (The Victorian Naturalist v.129 no.4, 2003)
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