Book/Plates: “The Temple of Flora”, Robert John Thornton, 1807
Robert John Thornton (British, 1768-1837)
The Temple of Flora, the third and final part of Robert John Thornton's "New illustration of the sexual system of Carolus von Linnaeus". It contains thirty-one plates which were produced by a variety of techniques. Artists who contributed to the volume included Peter Henderson, Philip Reinagle, Abraham Pether, Sydenham Edwards and Thornton himself.
The project drove Thornton to financial ruin. Today it’s considered by many to be the greatest flower book of all time.
1. The Night-Blowing Cereus, Robert Dunkarton; Artist: After Philip Reinagle; Artist: Moonlight by William Pether; Publisher: Dr. Robert John Thornton. 1800.
Mezzotint, printed in color and hand-colored, 48,26 x 35,88 cm. Minneapolis Institute of Art, The Minnich Collection The Ethel Morrison Van Derlip Fund.
Source and download: https://collections.artsmia.org/art/73477/the-night-blowing-cereus-robert-dunkarton
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2. The Superb Lily, from The Temple of Flora, 1799. Richard Earlom (British, 1743-1822) after Ramsay Richard Reinagle (British, 1775-1862).
Color mezzotint, aquatint and etching, inked à la poupée, with watercolor (hand-coloring) on cream wove paper, 44,7 × 36 cm. The Art Institute of Chicago, gift of Walter S. Brewster.
Source and download: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/22485/the-superb-lily-from-the-temple-of-flora
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3. The White Lily with Variegated Leaves, Robert John Thornton, 1800.
Aquatint, stipple and line engraving. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland in memory of Mrs. Ralph King.
Source and download: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1952.212
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4. The Blue Passion Flower, Robert John Thornton, 1800.
Aquatint, stipple and line engraving. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Robert Hays Gries.
Source and download: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1952.442
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5. The American Aloe, Robert John Thornton, 1807.
Aquatint, stipple and line engraving. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Robert Hays Gries.
Source and download: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1952.444
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6. A Group of Auriculas, Robert John Thornton, 1803.
Aquatint, stipple, and etching with watercolor added by hand. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland.
Source and download: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1949.415