Ferdinand Bauer Diuris maculata Australian Orchid Limited Edition

$180.00

Rare Limited Edition reproduction of a watercoloured drawing by Austrian artist Ferdinand Bauer (1760-1826) for "The Australian Paintings of Ferdinand Bauer", a selection reproduced from his Illlustrations Florae Novae Hollandiae (Illustrations of the Flora of Australia) originally published in London circa 1815.

Between 1801 and 1805 Bauer accompanied Matthew Flinders on the first circumnavigation of Australia. The accuracy of the scientific descriptions of new botanical species seen during the voyage by English naturalist Robert Brown, would undoubtedly have contributed greatly to the accuracy of these Ferdinand Bauer botanical illustrations. On seeing his work, Goethe (his contemporary) wrote "It is a real jooy to look at these plates, for Nature is visible, Art concealed."

Unfortunately Brown could not find financial support for the publication at that time, so Bauer left England and returned to Austria, where he finished his series of superb drawings of Australian plants and animals. Both Ferdinand and Franz Bauer (also known as Francis Bauer) (1758-1840) showed considerable talent as botanical artists when young. The high quality of their botanical illustrations combined exceptional scientific observation with subtle artistry.

The botanical plate paper size is 50 x 33cm (19.6 x 13 inches). For presentation at the time of publication, each of these pages was attached to a thick dark green sheet of paper.