- Title: The Oblique-Leaved Begonia
- Author: Robert John Thornton
- Date: 1800
- Condition: Good - top and bottom margins trimmed not affecting title, fold across center, old hinging residue at top left and right paper edges about 1/2"
- Inches: 13 3/4 x 19 1/2 [Image]
- Centimeters: 34.92 x 49.53 [Image]
- Product ID: 308311
Robert John Thornton (1768-1837) was an English physician and botanical writer who made significant contributions to the field of botany in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Despite his medical training, Thornton's true passion lay in the world of plants and botanical illustration.
Thornton's most notable work was "A New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus Von Linnæus," published between 1797 and 1807. This ambitious project consisted of three parts, with the third part, known as "The Temple of Flora," being particularly renowned. "The Temple of Flora" featured 33 exquisite-colored plates of flowers, created using various engraving techniques including aquatint, stipple, and line engraving.
Despite the artistic and scientific value of his work, Thornton's ambitious publishing projects led to financial difficulties. The lack of public interest in "The Temple of Flora" resulted in financial ruin and even attempts to hold a lottery could not save the venture. Tragically, Thornton died in destitution in 1837. Today, the works are highly valued by collectors and art enthusiasts alike. Prints from "The Temple of Flora" can fetch significant prices at auctions and galleries, with some individual plates valued at thousands of dollars.