The Art of Botanical Illustration

Today’s photographic capabilities are a better means of capturing the beauty and inner workings of plants; however, that has not always been the case. Before the invention of the macro lens or even microscopes, artists and scientists took to drawing the plants; both for science and visual pleasure. It is an artistic practice as old as “art” itself. And although it was a necessary part of identifying plant life in decades past, it is a process that is still very much alive today.

Where Science and Botanical Art Meet

Botanical illustration is generally classified as “the art of depicting the form, color, and details of plant species”. There are different categories within the overall art of botanical illustration; in general, the illustrations can lean toward the more scientific, or more artistic and aesthetic like the below 18th-century plate.

The art itself can be traced back to the mid-1st century. Since its beginning, various professions sought out and utilized the illustrations: physicians, pharmacists, botanical scientists, and gardeners to name a few. Contributions from botanical illustrators are numerous. Their work has helped to highlight plants distinguishing features which aid in the categorization of differentiating plant species.

The Golden Age of Botanical Art

The golden age of botanical art coincided, roughly, with the Age of Exploration: the 15th-17th centuries. As explorers “discovered” new continents, they brought along artists to detail the experience as well as to document any newly found plant or animal species.

The fundamental factor in scientific quality of a botanical illustration is not the medium the artist chooses to use or the technology used for its representation, but the artist’s understanding of plant morphology.

Stephen A. Harris, Botanical Art & Artists.

Botanical Illustrations from 5 Artists: Past and Present

Thankfully, now that we are in the digital age, many of the publications and illustrations are available to view online. Museums carry them, garden organizations display them; there is an abundance of art to be seen. Below are listed just a handful of botanical artists ranging from the 17th century to the present day.

1. Alexander Marshal

Alexander Marshall (1620–1682) was a gardener interested in documenting the species of plants growing in English gardens and beyond.

2. Elizabeth Blackwell

Elizabeth Blackwell (1707–1758) is notable in the world of botanical art for being one of the first artists to complete the full process of drawing, etching/engraving, and hand-coloring her own designs. Through this process, she was able to save money while putting together and publishing her A Curious Herbal in 1735; this led to Blackwell providing the money to free her husband from a debtor’s prison.

3. Anne Pratt

Anne Pratt (1806–1893) was known as one of the most influential Victorian botanical artists; she wrote and illustrated more than 20 books during her life.

4. Stella Ross-Craig

Stella Ross-Craig (1906–2006) is known for her artistic work and also for spearheading the publication of Drawings of British Plants, published between 1948-1973.

5. Alice Tangerini

While the previous illustrators are no longer with us, Alice Tangerini (b. 1949) is active in the botanical art world. Furthermore, she currently works for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, having been there since 1972.

Get to know more with Judith Magee, curator of rare books at the Natural History Museum in London: