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Æsculapius, Flora, Ceres and Cupid honouring the Bust of Linnæus.
Æsculapius, Flora, Ceres and Cupid honouring the Bust of Linnæus.
Russell R. A. and Opie R. A. pinx. Caldwell sculp.
London, Published by D.r Thornton, April 1, 1806.
Fine stipple with hand-colour. Plate: 510 x 380mm (20 x 15"). Light mount burn. Cracking around the plate.
The frontis to Dr Thornton's 'Temple of Flora' showing Classical figures crowing the bust of Swedish botanist and zoologist Carl Linneaus (1707-1778).
See 16742 for b/w impression.
[Ref: 47882]   £380.00  
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Linnaeus in his Lapland Dress.  From an original Picture in the possession of Dr. Thornton.
Linnaeus in his Lapland Dress. From an original Picture in the possession of Dr. Thornton.
Hoffman pinxt. H. Kingsbury sculpt.
London published by Dr. Thornton June 1805.
Mezzotint, printed in colours. 510 x 350mm (20 x 13¾"). Slightly rubbed, 4cm break on platemark lower left.
Carolus Linnaeus the elder, 1707-1778, a plant with a label attached in one hand, a shaman's drum in the other. An inscription on the drum reads 'Carolus Linnaeus a Lapponia redux aetat 30, anno 1737 / Mart Hoffman fecit.' An illustration from Robert Thornton's 'Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus von Linnaeus'.
[Ref: 3212]   £650.00  
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Linnaeus in his Lapland Dress.  From an original Picture in the possession of Dr. Thornton.
Linnaeus in his Lapland Dress. From an original Picture in the possession of Dr. Thornton.
Hoffman pinx.t. Dunkarton sculp.t.
London published by Dr. Thornton June 1. 1805.
Rare mezzotint. 510 x 350mm (20 x 13¾").
Carl Linnaeus the elder, (1707-1778), a plant with a label attached in one hand, a shaman's drum in the other. An inscription on the drum reads 'Carolus Linnaeus a Lapponia redux aetat 30, anno 1737 / Mart Hoffman fecit.' An illustration from Robert Thornton's 'Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus von Linnaeus'. Other states give the engraver's name as Henry Kingsbury.
Chaloner Smith 8, state iii of iii. Ex Collection of the Hon. Christopher Lennox-Boyd. Wellcome: 1778-2
[Ref: 36872]   £850.00  
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Cupid, Flora, Ceres, and Esculapius, Honouring the Bust of Linnaeus.
Cupid, Flora, Ceres, and Esculapius, Honouring the Bust of Linnaeus.
Russell R.A. & Opie R.A. pinx.t. Maddocks sculp.t.
London Pub.d Jan.y 1 1812 by Dr. Thornton.
Stipple. 375 x 270mm, 14¾ x 10½".
One of the frontispieces to the Lottery Edition of Dr Robert Thornton's 'Temple of Flora'. In an attempt to bring in revenue to pay for the publication of his large botanical plates, Thornton had this small folio edition produced and held a lottery with them as prizes. This too failed and Thornton became destitute.
See 47882 for coloured impression
[Ref: 16742]   £190.00   (£228.00 incl.VAT)
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A Group of Carnations.
A Group of Carnations.
Henderson pinx. Caldwell sculp.
London. Published April 2nd, 1803 by Dr. Thornton.
Aquatint with stipple and line, printed in colours and hand-finished. 510 x 390mm.
Published in Thornton's 'Temple of Flora', the first series of flower prints to show the plant within a habitat. Third and last state.
[Ref: 6133]   £1,700.00  
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Hyacinths.
Hyacinths.
S. Edwards pinx.t. Warner sculp.t.
London. Published June 1, 1801 by Dr. Thornton.
Aquatint with stipple and line, printed in colours and hand-finished. 550 x 450mm (21¾ x 17¾"). On Whatman paper. Cut to plate on three sides.
Four varieties of hyacinths, published in Dr Robert John Thornton's 'Temple of Flora' 1799-1807, considered by many to be the greatest English colour-plate flower book, and the first series of flower prints to show the plant within a habitat. This is one of the few plates drawn by a professional botanical illustrator, in this case Sydenham Edwards (1768-1819).
Dunthorne: p.245, state ii of ii.
[Ref: 30322]   £1,250.00   view all images for this item
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Hyacinths.
Hyacinths.
S. Edwards pinx.t. Warner sculp.t.
London. Published June 1, 1801 by Dr. Thornton.
Aquatint with stipple and line, printed in colours, no added hand colouring. 550 x 450mm.
Four varieties of hyacinths, published in Dr Robert John Thornton's 'Temple of Flora' 1799-1807, considered by many to be the greatest English colour-plate flower book, and the first series of flower prints to show the plant within a habitat. This example is unusual in having no additional hand colour, instead relying on the quality of the colour printing. It is also one of the few plates drawn by a professional botanical illustrator, in this case Sydenham Edwards (1768-1819).
Dunthorne: p.245, state ii of ii.
[Ref: 40878]   £850.00  
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Indian Reed.
Indian Reed.
Henderson pinxt. Caldwall Sculpt.
London. Published by Dr. Thornton. 1804.
Coloured aquatint. Plate 538 x 412mm. 21¼ x 16¼".
From Dr. Thornton's "Temple of Flora" London: 1799-1807. Published in Thornton's 'Temple of Flora', the first series of flower prints to show the plant within a habitat. Dr Robert John Thornton (1768-1837) was an English physician and botanical writer. At Trinity College, Cambridge he turned away from the church towards medicine, having been inspired by the works of Linnaeus and Thomas Martyn's lectures. He went on to work at Guy's Hospital, London, where he later lectured in medical botany. Ht took some time off to travel abroad, whish is when he begain his ambitious work, the 'Temple of Flora', for which, he produced a total of thirty-three coloured plates. His original plan was to publish seventy folio-size plates, however the lack of public interest spelled disaster and Thornton died in poverty.
[Ref: 16504]   £720.00  
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The Maggot-bearing Stapelia.
The Maggot-bearing Stapelia.
Henderson pinx.t. Stadler sculp.t.
London Published July 1, 1801, by Dr. Thornton, Hinde Street.
Aquatint with some stipple & line, printed in colours, hand-finished. 530 x 400mm, 20¾ x 16". Smith watermark Tears repaired.
Stapelia hirsuta L. or Carrion Flower, from Dr Robert John Thornton's 'Temple of Flora' 1799-1807, considered by many to be the greatest English colour-plate flower book, and the first series of flower prints to show the plant within a habitat. Here this South African plant is shown in an almost alpine environment. Hiding underneath is a snake. Thornton (1768-1837) was an English physician and botanical writer. At Trinity College, Cambridge he turned away from the church towards medicine, having been inspired by the works of Linnaeus and Thomas Martyn's lectures. He went on to work at Guy's Hospital, London, where he later lectured in medical botany. Ht took some time off to travel abroad, which is when he began his ambitious work, the 'Temple of Flora', for which he produced a total of 33 coloured plates. His original plan was to publish seventy folio-size plates, however the lack of public interest spelled disaster and Thornton died in poverty.
Dunthorne: p. 250, state ii of ii.
[Ref: 19482]   £450.00  
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The Narrow Leaved Kalmia.
The Narrow Leaved Kalmia.
Reinagle A.R. pinx.t. Caldwell sculp.t.
London. Published June 1. 1804 by Dr. Thornton.
Aquatint and stipple, printed in colours and hand-finished. 545 x 415mm (21½ x 16¼"), watermarked 'H. Smith 1810'. Small tear in edge of top margin, slight mount burn.
An illustration of the Kalmia angustifolia, a native of eastern North America known now as narrow-leaved laurel, dwarf laurel and lambkill (because of an andromedotoxin poisonous to grazing animals). It was published in Dr Robert John Thornton's 'Temple of Flora' 1799-1807, considered by many to be the greatest English colour-plate flower book, and the first series of flower prints to show the plant within a habitat, in this case with ships in the background.
Dunthorne: p.251, only state.
[Ref: 60146]   £850.00  
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The Oblique-Leaved Begonia.
The Oblique-Leaved Begonia.
Reinagle pinx.t. Caldwell sculp.t.
London. Published July 1, 1800 by Dr. Thornton.
Coloured aquatint with stipple and line, printed in colours and hand-finished. 510 x 380mm (20 x 15") very large margins. Two small tears in margin.
'Begonia nitidia', introduced from Jamaica by Sir Joseph Banks, the botanist on Cook's first circumnaviation. Published in Thornton's 'Temple of Flora', the first series of flower prints to show the plant within a habitat.
Dunthorne: p. 248, state iii of iii.
[Ref: 53465]   £850.00  
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The Pontic Rhododendron.
The Pontic Rhododendron.
Henderson del. Caldwell sculp.
London. Published by Dr. Thornton, Dec.r 1st 1802.
Aquatint with stipple & line engraving, small margins,printed in colours and hand-finished. 530 x 405mm (21 x 16"). Two small fly spots in sky.
An illustration of Rhododendron ponticum, or Common Rhododendron. It was published in Dr Robert John Thornton's 'Temple of Flora' 1799-1807, considered by many to be the greatest English colour-plate flower book, and the first series of flower prints to show the plant within a habitat.
Dunthorne, p.250, only state.
[Ref: 30321]   £850.00   view all images for this item
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The Quadrangular Passion Flower.
The Quadrangular Passion Flower.
Henderson pinx.t. Hopwood sculp.t.
London. Published by Dr Thornton June 1st 1802.
Aquatint with stipple, printed in colours and hand-finished. Sheet 520 x 405mm (20½ x 16"). Trimmed within plate, small tear in top edge.
Published in Thornton's 'Temple of Flora', the first series of flower prints to have the plant in its natural habitat. Although originally from South America the plant is shown here climbing a column, with a Grecian temple in the background.
State iii of iii. Dunthorne, p.251: "One of the best examples of colour printing".
[Ref: 55285]   £950.00  
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The Snowdrop.
The Snowdrop.
Pether pinx.t. W.Ward, Engraver to H.R.H., the Duke of York, sculp.t.
London, Published by Dr Thornton, Sept.r 1804 [-1810].
Mezzotint and aquatint, printed in colours and hand finished, on heavy Whatman paper. 490 x 345mm, 19¾ x 13½".
Snowdrops and crocuses in the foreground, with a snow-covered cottage and village in the distance. Published in Thornton's 'Temple of Flora', the first series of flower prints to show the plant within a habitat, and regarded as the finest English botanical colour-plate book.
Dunthorne: p.244, state III of III.
[Ref: 21383]   £650.00  
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The Superb Lily.
The Superb Lily.
Reinagle pinx.t. Earlom sculp.t.
London, Published June 1, 1799 by D.r Thornton.
Mezzotint, printed in colours and hand-finished. 475 x 355mm (18¾ x 14"), with large margins, watermarked 'J. Whatman 1794'. Colour faded.
An illustration of Lilium superbum, called the Turk's-cap lily or American Tiger Lily, native to the eastern and central regions of North America. One of the most desirable and plates from Dr Robert John Thornton's (1768-1837) 'Temple of Flora' (1799-1807), the greatest English colour-plate flower book, the first series of flower prints to show the plant within a habitat. Thornton had two plates engraved (the other by William Ward), an extravagence that helped Thornton into bankruptcy.
Dunthorne p.249: plate 'B', state I of IV.
[Ref: 54698]   £850.00  
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The White Lily with Variegated-leaves.
The White Lily with Variegated-leaves.
Henderson pinx.t. Stadler sculp.t.
London Published Aug.t 1, 1800, by Dr. Thornton.
Aquatint, printed in colours and hand-finished. 540 x 400mm, 21¼ x 16". Framed. Unexamined out of frame.
Madonna Lily (Lilium candidum), native of the Middle East, from Dr Robert John Thornton's 'Temple of Flora' 1799-1807, considered by many to be the greatest English colour-plate flower book, and the first series of flower prints to show the plant within a habitat. Here the plant is growing under the shadow of trees, with a clearing behind with a Grecian temple. Thornton (1768-1837) was an English physician and botanical writer. At Trinity College, Cambridge he turned away from the church towards medicine, having been inspired by the works of Linnaeus and Thomas Martyn's lectures. He went on to work at Guy's Hospital, London, where he later lectured in medical botany. Ht took some time off to travel abroad, which is when he began his ambitious work, the 'Temple of Flora', for which he produced a total of 33 coloured plates. His original plan was to publish seventy folio-size plates, however the lack of public interest spelled disaster and Thornton died in poverty.
Dunthorne: p. 249, state i of iv.
[Ref: 52905]   £650.00  

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Robert John Thornton, M.D. Public Lecturer on Medical Botany.
Robert John Thornton, M.D. Public Lecturer on Medical Botany. [also] Entrance into that most noble Public Gallery and admirable Medical Establishment Guys Hospital.
Russell, R.A. pinx. Bartolozzi R.A. sculp. [also] Elmes, Archt.t del.t. W. Woolnoth Sculp.t.
London Published May 1 1799.
A single plate with a stipple portrait and an engraved view. 480 x 360mm (19 x 14¼"), with wide margins.
A portrait of Dr Robert Thornton, famed for his 'Temple of Flora' flower prints, with a view of Guy's Hospital underneath. The view was published in Thornton's 'A New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus von Linnaeus'.
[Ref: 51370]   £180.00   (£216.00 incl.VAT)
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