The Temple of Flora (Folio Society Limited Edition)
THORNTON, Robert John (commentary by Stephen Harris). The Temple of Flora. London: The Folio Society, 2008. 2 vols.
Elephant folio. Main volume hand bound by Smith Settle in quarter dark green goatskin and dark green canvas cloth. Spine lettered in gilt on black leather panel. Cover illustration in gilt and colour after the plate The Night-Blowing Cereus, reproduced by David Eccles. Upper edge stained dark green. Main volume: 9 preliminary monochrome plates, 5 preliminary colour plates, 29 full-colour floral plates, and 2 loose full-colour plates in envelope. Commentary volume by Stephen Harris bound in dark green buckram, spine lettered and ruled in gilt, 117 pp. Housed in green canvas cloth solander case. First Folio Society edition. Facsimile. Limitation: 1,980 copies printed in total, of which 600 were bound with the full text; this being number 23 of those 600.
Robert John Thornton was a physician and botanist with an ambition that far exceeded his means. Between 1797 and 1807, he produced New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus von Linnaeus, a work intended to be the most magnificent botanical publication ever made. Its third and most celebrated part was The Temple of Flora: a series of flower paintings in which the plants were presented not against the flat white grounds of conventional botanical illustration but within dramatic landscaped settings that gave each plate the character of a Romantic landscape painting as much as a work of natural history. He commissioned the leading artists of the day, including Peter Henderson, Philip Reinagle, and Abraham Pether, and had their paintings engraved and hand-coloured to a standard that had no precedent in botanical publishing. The cost was ruinous. Thornton never recovered financially from the project, and in 1811 he resorted to a parliamentary lottery to dispose of the plates and books.
The plates that survived this history are among the most extraordinary objects in the literature of natural history illustration: oversize, technically accomplished, and of an extravagance that sets them apart from anything produced before or since.
Given the history of Thornton's original, the story of the Folio Society facsimile of 2008 is somewhat ironic. Published with similar difficulties, the intention was to produce 1,980 copies, however a lukewarm initial response forced the publisher to change plans, only producing 600 bound copies, and offering the rest of the plates loose. Despite the issues, this is among the largest and most beautiful works the Folio Society has ever created. Printed at full elephant folio scale with the cover design reproducing The Night-Blowing Cereus in gilt and colour, is the most faithful large-scale reproduction of the complete series. The accompanying commentary volume by Stephen Harris of the Oxford University Herbaria provides the botanical and historical context the plates deserve.
Near fine. Solander case somewhat bumped and marked, with a small patch of wear to upper spine crease. Main volume near fine with some very minor rubbing to cover illustration. Contents fine, as new. Companion volume and loose plates fine, as new.
This book is currently not on display in store. If you would like more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact: [email protected]
Catalogue Number: HH000219
Please note: This item is very large and heavy. Within Australia it may require additional postage costs. For international shipping please contact us for a quote.
Product Information
Product Information
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
Description
THORNTON, Robert John (commentary by Stephen Harris). The Temple of Flora. London: The Folio Society, 2008. 2 vols.
Elephant folio. Main volume hand bound by Smith Settle in quarter dark green goatskin and dark green canvas cloth. Spine lettered in gilt on black leather panel. Cover illustration in gilt and colour after the plate The Night-Blowing Cereus, reproduced by David Eccles. Upper edge stained dark green. Main volume: 9 preliminary monochrome plates, 5 preliminary colour plates, 29 full-colour floral plates, and 2 loose full-colour plates in envelope. Commentary volume by Stephen Harris bound in dark green buckram, spine lettered and ruled in gilt, 117 pp. Housed in green canvas cloth solander case. First Folio Society edition. Facsimile. Limitation: 1,980 copies printed in total, of which 600 were bound with the full text; this being number 23 of those 600.
Robert John Thornton was a physician and botanist with an ambition that far exceeded his means. Between 1797 and 1807, he produced New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus von Linnaeus, a work intended to be the most magnificent botanical publication ever made. Its third and most celebrated part was The Temple of Flora: a series of flower paintings in which the plants were presented not against the flat white grounds of conventional botanical illustration but within dramatic landscaped settings that gave each plate the character of a Romantic landscape painting as much as a work of natural history. He commissioned the leading artists of the day, including Peter Henderson, Philip Reinagle, and Abraham Pether, and had their paintings engraved and hand-coloured to a standard that had no precedent in botanical publishing. The cost was ruinous. Thornton never recovered financially from the project, and in 1811 he resorted to a parliamentary lottery to dispose of the plates and books.
The plates that survived this history are among the most extraordinary objects in the literature of natural history illustration: oversize, technically accomplished, and of an extravagance that sets them apart from anything produced before or since.
Given the history of Thornton's original, the story of the Folio Society facsimile of 2008 is somewhat ironic. Published with similar difficulties, the intention was to produce 1,980 copies, however a lukewarm initial response forced the publisher to change plans, only producing 600 bound copies, and offering the rest of the plates loose. Despite the issues, this is among the largest and most beautiful works the Folio Society has ever created. Printed at full elephant folio scale with the cover design reproducing The Night-Blowing Cereus in gilt and colour, is the most faithful large-scale reproduction of the complete series. The accompanying commentary volume by Stephen Harris of the Oxford University Herbaria provides the botanical and historical context the plates deserve.
Near fine. Solander case somewhat bumped and marked, with a small patch of wear to upper spine crease. Main volume near fine with some very minor rubbing to cover illustration. Contents fine, as new. Companion volume and loose plates fine, as new.
This book is currently not on display in store. If you would like more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact: [email protected]
Catalogue Number: HH000219
Please note: This item is very large and heavy. Within Australia it may require additional postage costs. For international shipping please contact us for a quote.
