Botanical prints serve a wonderful dual purpose: They are beautiful aesthetic pieces, similar to fine art, but they also have the meticulous detail necessary for science.
Botanical prints often reflect the concerns of society during the time they were created. For example, ‘tulip mania’ spread through Holland in the 17th century, making precious tulip bulbs and engravings illustrating the bulbs, coveted products. The fantastic British gardens cultivated in the 18th century were expertly crafted by a well-known Dutch flower artist, Jan Van Huysum.
In the early 17th century, European artists and scientists undertook massive projects to collect, capture, and catalog nature and its astonishing variety. Hortus Eysttensis was the first great collection of botanical illustrations; it was published in 1613 by Basilius Besler. At least 10 engravers worked under Besler’s supervision to complete the 16-year project, which documented the impressive gardens of the Prince Bishop of Eichstätt, in Germany.
In the 18th century, Johann Wilhelm Weinmann and many others worked on illustrations to introduce exotic plants to England. Examples of these exotics include bananas and lists of imported and domestic plants that were used in herbal remedies.
The 19th century saw the printing and distribution by the American publisher Currier and Ives of a popular still life bouquet arrangement. Many of the original lithographs and prints created by Currier and Ives are still available for display in major museums in the United States.
Botanical prints are considered a fusion of art and science, and today there are many books and websites that detail the scientific significance of these prints. With such a wide variety of plant species, many still undiscovered and unnamed, it is vital to have a complete record of plant life as it has appeared in history. The scientific community generally accepts the idea that plants hold the secret of powerful drugs that will be used to control or cure many of today’s diseases and ailments, and botanical prints provide a means of recording where certain plants were used in the past and when.
However, beyond their scientific value, botanical prints are also prized by collectors. Major pieces, such as those featured in Hortus Eysttensis, can range in price from $ 1,800 to $ 6,200 (USD). As in most cases, the etchings in the Hortus series survive the garden, which was destroyed by Swedish troops in 1634. A reconstruction of the original garden was opened to the public in Eichstätt in 1998.
Interior designers also value botanical prints for their beauty and delicate color, although prints used in decorated homes and other buildings tend to be collected and photocopied reprints of old books.
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