Robert Sweet Flower Garden 1838
Tulipa turcica

The years from 1760 to 1860 are considered the golden age of botanical illustration and botanical magazine publication. Robert Sweet (1783-1835) made significant contributions during this period, when “tulipomania” and the hunt for other glamorous and exotic species was a national pastime in Europe. Financed by wealthy patrons, many of whom were able to raise exotic species more successfully due to improvements in greenhouse construction, the publication of botanical works reached its peak.

Robert Sweet was a gardener and nurseryman from Devon, in the South of England, sometimes called the Riviera of the British Isles. Through his work for wealthy landowners, he became interested first in geraniums and rock rose species and began publishing illustrated botanical works. In 1812 he became a fellow of the Linnaean Society. Many flower species were named for him.

Botanical publications became his principal livelihood, though he still cultivated plants for sale in his own garden. His contribution was both notable and prolific, including Geraniaceae in 1820, Cistineae in 1825, Flora Australasica and The Florist’s Guide in 1827, and his largest work with 712 illustrations, The British Flower Garden, in 1838.

It is from the British Flower Garden that we offer this beautiful selection of prints, much rarer than the Curtis prints of the same time. Many of the illustrations were by Edward Dalton Smith, whom Wilfrid Blunt calls a "considerable artist of small-scale work", who painted exquisite floral portraits in brilliant color.

Fortunately, these treasures from the past have come to us in remarkably fine condition, with wide margins and strong plate marks on a heavy wove paper that is a soft white. Each print measures approximately 6 inches wide by 10 inches long and is accompanied by the relevant descriptive text and a copy of the title page. The original hand coloring of the prints is very clear and vivid and each print is an impressionistic water color of exceptional charm. If you have any questions please contact us at panteek@aol.com

Please note all our prints are ORIGINAL antique prints with documented provenance. We do NOT sell reproductions of any type.

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