The Maggot-bearing Stapelia
Print
1801 (printed and published)
1801 (printed and published)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
The Temple of Flora was an ambitious and in many ways a magnificent botanical publication. Its large-scale illustrations represent exotic plants in a melodramatic way. They are shown in landscapes that were supposed to represent their native habitats. Robert Thornton describes ‘the maggot-bearing STAPELIA [Stapelia hirsuta]’ in his introductory 'Explanation of the Picturesque plates'. He writes that it is shown with ‘a green African snake, and a blow-fly in the act of depositing her eggs in the flower, with the maggots produced from this cause’. Unfortunately, Thornton employed few artists who were professional botanical illustrators. The ignorance of both author and artist led to many inaccuracies. Here the Maggot-bearing Stapelia is shown in a mountainous northern forest. In fact, stapeliads are found only in southern Africa.
Thornton published his great work in parts between 1799 and 1807. At this time there were many competing publications. He failed to sell sufficient copies, and he eventually went bankrupt from the costs of producing the plates.
Thornton published his great work in parts between 1799 and 1807. At this time there were many competing publications. He failed to sell sufficient copies, and he eventually went bankrupt from the costs of producing the plates.
Object details
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Materials and techniques | Colour aquatint, with additional hand-colouring |
Brief description | Botanical illustration, plate from Robert Thornton's Temple of Flora; 'The Maggot-bearing Stapelia', 1801, published in London; British. |
Physical description | Image of a plant with orange flower, white buds, and green spiky leaves with red tips, set against an expansive landscape backdrop, with pine trees, a river and mountain. On the flower is a blow-fly, and near the plant on the right is a blue snake. |
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Summary | The Temple of Flora was an ambitious and in many ways a magnificent botanical publication. Its large-scale illustrations represent exotic plants in a melodramatic way. They are shown in landscapes that were supposed to represent their native habitats. Robert Thornton describes ‘the maggot-bearing STAPELIA [Stapelia hirsuta]’ in his introductory 'Explanation of the Picturesque plates'. He writes that it is shown with ‘a green African snake, and a blow-fly in the act of depositing her eggs in the flower, with the maggots produced from this cause’. Unfortunately, Thornton employed few artists who were professional botanical illustrators. The ignorance of both author and artist led to many inaccuracies. Here the Maggot-bearing Stapelia is shown in a mountainous northern forest. In fact, stapeliads are found only in southern Africa. Thornton published his great work in parts between 1799 and 1807. At this time there were many competing publications. He failed to sell sufficient copies, and he eventually went bankrupt from the costs of producing the plates. |
Bibliographic reference | Thornton, Robert. Temple of Flora, volume three of The New Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus. Published by Robert Thornton, London, 1799-1807.
Departmental Circulation Register 1967 |
Collection | |
Accession number | CIRC.524-1967 |
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Record created | February 19, 2004 |
Record URL |
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