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The Maggot-bearing Stapelia

Print
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.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • The Maggot-bearing Stapelia (assigned by artist)
  • Carrion Plant (popular title)
  • Stapelia hirsuta L. (generic title)
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.
Dimensions
  • Height: 55.5cm
  • Width: 42.5cm
Cut to size.
Marks and inscriptions
  • Henderson pinxt.

    Note
    Lower left

  • The Maggot-bearing Stapelia / London, Published July 1. 1801. by Dr. Thornton, Hinde Street.

    Note
    Lower centre

  • Stadler sculpt.

    Note
    Lower right

Gallery label
(2011)
After a painting by Peter Chrales Henderson
active 1791-1829
Carrion Plant (Stapelia hirsuta L.)
1801

Robert Thornton's 'Temple of Flora' was an unconventional botanical publication. The plants are set in elaborate picturesque landscapes supposed to represent the country of origin. Here a maggot-bearing stapelia of enormous proportions is set against a background more akin to a Scottish landscape than its native South African habitat.

London
Colour aquatint with additional hand-colouring; by Joseph Constantine Stadler (active 1780-1812)
Plate from Robert Thornton, 'The Temple of Flora' (London, 1799-1807)
V&: Circ.524-1967
Subjects depicted
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 createdFebruary 19, 2004
Record URL
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