The Art of Botanical Illustration by Wilfred Blunt

The Art of Botanical Illustration by Wilfred Blunt

Comprehensive and very readable historical and artistic survey of botanical illustration First published in 1950, this classic is still considered the definitive work on the subject. The book was revised and enlarged by AC in 2000, and published to overwhelming acclaim; this is a reprint of that edition. It provides a comprehensive, critical and well-illustrated survey of the portrayal of plants through more than three thousand years. Of the first edition, the poet and gardening writer, Vita Sackville-West, after referring in The Observer to the wealth of illustration and the fascination of the text, then said, Let no one think this is a book only for the specialist. It is essential for the specialist, certainly, but it is also for all the flower-lovers and all those who enjoy the by-ways of biography and the added attraction of good writing. Wilfrid Blunt, an artist himself, brought to it a craftsman's appreciation and knowledge gained from experience, the extensive literature and visits to many galleries on the Continent. William T. Stearn gave him much help on botanical, biographical and bibliographical matters and contributed part of the text. Professor Stearn has revised and enlarged this classic work and greatly extended the chapter on the twentieth century. This edition includes 126 color plates (more than twice as many as the original 1950 edition) and 140 black and white illustrations, thus making available to the general public numerous examples of the work of great botanical illustrators past and present.

One of the attractions of this voluminous book is its varying approach to the long and somewhat complex history of botanical illustration going back to the herbals and other illustrated books of antiquity keeping the material fresh and engagingAnd all along, there are those handsome, fetching illustrations, especially the color ones.--Henry Berry"

Wilfrid Blunt (1901-87) was an art master at Haileybury College and at Eton College, Windsor. On his retirement in 1959 he became Curator of the Watts Gallery, near Guildford, Surrey. Here Blunt devoted most of his time to writing and travel and published some twenty-five books. William Stearn (b.1911) has had an almost lifelong interest in botanical illustration. His numerous publications include Botanical Latin,Australian Flower Paintings of Ferdinand Bauer, Merian in Surinam,Plant Portraits from the Flora Danica, Flower Artists of Kew and The Orchid Paintings of Franz Bauer.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781851497607
ISBN 10	1851497609
Title	The Art of Botanical Illustration
Author	Wilfred Blunt
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	ACC Art Books
Year published	2015-08-10
Number of pages	385
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.