Hyacinths

Sydenham Teast Edwards (1769 - 1819)
Thomas Warner

Colour aquatint and engraving

published 1 June 1801
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  • About the work
    Location
    Country: Iran
    City: Tehran
    Place: British Embassy

    This illustration is from botanical author Dr Robert John Thornton’s great work: ‘New Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus’ (published 1799-1807). Thornton spared no expense in the production of the lavish publication, better known by its 1804 title ‘The Temple of Flora’. Although based on a dissertation about the sexes of plants by Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), Thornton added his own notes before publishing the work in parts.

    ‘The Temple of Flora’ was the most sumptuous botanical publication ever produced. Thornton, who had trained as a dentist, practised botanical painting himself but only included one of his own designs, ‘Roses’. Instead he commissioned several artists, including Philip Reinagle, Peter Henderson and Abraham Pether, to produce illustrations set against landscapes or allegoric backgrounds. In some instances the backgrounds do not relate to the flowers. For example, Reinagle’s JamaicanNight-Blooming Cereus’ is set against a moonlit view of an English church. The high production costs of the publication led to financial disaster for Thornton and, in spite of the renown of the book, he died in poverty.

  • About the artist
    Natural history painter Sydenham Teast Edwards was born in Monmouthshire, south east Wales; the son of a Welsh schoolmaster. He studied botanical painting under William Curtis and supplied illustrations to Curtis’s two publications: ‘Botanical Magazine’ and ‘Flora Londinensis’. However, after a falling out with Curtis, he began his own magazine, the ‘Botanical Register’. Edwards published ‘Cynographia Britannica’ in 1800 and ‘The New British Flora’ in 1812. He also illustrated R. W. Dickinson’s ‘Complete Dictionary of Practical Gardening’ and made drawings for ‘Sportsman’s Magazine’. Edwards lived at addresses in Lambeth, south London, Brompton and Chelsea. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1792 to 1813. He died in Chelsea in 1819.
    Thomas Warner was a line and mixed-method engraver of plates for Dr. Thornton’s ‘Temple of Flora’. He also produced small bookplates.
  • Explore
    Places
    Subjects
    hyacinth
    Materials & Techniques
    engraving, aquatint, colour aquatint
  • Details
    Title
    Hyacinths
    Date
    published 1 June 1801
    Medium
    Colour aquatint and engraving
    Dimensions
    height: 50.00 cm, width: 38.00 cm
    Acquisition
    Purchased from F B Daniell & Son, May 1957
    GAC number
    3797