Full Description
Flowers and plants are a staple of British life. Nearly 40% of our population considers themselves to be gardeners, making this and associated activities a national pursuit. And yet, while we hold endless discussions over how to seed, grow, and disseminate our cherished plants, we still known relatively little about how they were collected, exchanged, circulated, identified, and modified, and how much art has shaped our understanding and appreciation of them. This publication, designed to accompany the homonymous exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum, explores some of these plant stories through highlights from Oxford's collections. Bringing together historical and scientific expertise, art and material culture, traditional and contemporary artworks, this book ultimately reflects on the long-lasting impact of flora on our society - and of us on it.
Contents
1. The Tradescants and Their Circle - by David Barry
i. The Tradescants' Orchard, MS. Ashmole 1461 - Mike Webb
2. Networks of Exchange: Oxford Physic Garden - by Stephen Harris
ii. Mary Somerset, Duchess of Beaufort (1630-1715) - India Cole
3. Botany and Books - by Stephen Harris
iii. Making the Flora Graeca - Stephen Harris
iv. Joseph Bank's Florilegium - Shailendra Bhandare
4. Art and Botany - by Martyn Rix
v. The Bauer Brothers - Stephen Harris
vi. Sarah Ann Drake - Lynn Parker
5. The Business of Plants - by Stephen Harris
vii. Tulips: Bulbs and Blooms between Asia and Europe - Francesca Leoni
6. Botany & Empire - by Vinita Damodaran
viii. Rungiah: An Indian Botanical Artist - Shailendra Bhandare
ix. Wedgwood Cameo Botanists - Matthew Winterbottom
7. Creative Visions and Alternative Futures: Anahita Norouzi, Justine Smith, Kate Friend, Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg - by Francesca Leoni
