Temple of Flora : or Garden of the Botanist Poet Painter and Philosopher [English Botanicals, Compiled with Poetry and Philosophy,

A Bound / Flex Cover / REPRINT: London : Robert Thornton, 1812 / Reprint / FBRE Ltd. Modern archival reprint of original edition, no other publication date marked. 110 pages. Illustrations in both b/w and color. Paper / Soft cover reprint edition in very good or better condition, slight wear to edges. Overall good copy of this scarce title. Excellent read. A good book to enjoy and keep on hand. Or would make a great gift for the fan / reader in your life. Review: Spectacular book Temple of Flora ; One of the greatest decorative flower books of the nineteenth century. Dr. Robert Thorton was determined that his country produce the greatest series of botanical illustrations of all time, and his Temple of Flora is unsurpassed as a botanical document of the Romantic era. Thornton assembled the finest flower painters to paint the original designs that served as the basis for the engravings, and no expense was spared in their production. They are the first botanicals to include landscape backgrounds laden with symbolic, sentimental, and dramatic elements. It is the forceful stylization of flowers, as well as their historical, allegorical and/or fanciful backgrounds, that place the Temple of Flora among the greatest botanical books. Excerpt from book: Lines addressed to Dr. Thornton, on his Temple of Flora: THORNTON, while polish'd Darwin a tells, The loves of FLORA's gaudy train, 'Tis thine to guard from time's decay, The fading glories of her reign. // Thy GARDEN of perpetual bloom No change of threat'ning skies can fear; Nor dashing rains, nor chilling blasts, Can reach the lovely fav'rites here. // Bright TULIPA in form as fair, As on the lap of Nature shines; As gaily spreads each opening flow'r, As soft each varying tint combines; // Whether in Asia's sun-bright soil , The Nymph her crimson chalice b rears, Or 'mid Batavia's fost'ring clime c In every added charm appears. // Here view august, in conscious pride, The ALOE lift her standard high; Swell in full pomp her cluster'd flowers, Resolv'd to triumph ere she die. // There CEREA, rich in countless charms, Spreads to the moon her golden ray; Nor fears that, ere yon orb descends, Each blooming grace should fade away. // Behold, in realms of endless spring, MIMOSA's beauteous form arise; While, circling round on festive wing, The ruby-throated spoiler flies. // Here, floating on the evening air, Fair PASSIFLORA scents the gale; Expands her crowns of sapphire blue, And softly waves her petals pale. // FLORA, well pleas'd at Art's success, Each imitative grace shall see; And CUPID, with approving smile, Shall twine his choicest Wreaths for THEE. / Dr. Shaw, British Museum.. C: clean and unmarked Text. Soft Cover / Cloth Binding. Very Good/No Dust Jacket. Illus. by Fully Illustrated. Natural History. Art History / Reference.