ROBERT THORNTON
The Temple of Flora. This was undoubtedly one of the finest English colour-plate books, certainly the finest flower book, containing 31 plates, which are dated from 1798 to 1812. Six artists were commissioned to paint the flowers and eighteen engravers were called upon to produce the printing plates, which were engraved in a wide variety of methods, mainly aquatint with a second method to finish. The results are spectacular. Dr Thornton financed the whole of the publication himself, and he was not the first publisher to find himself in financial straits. The prints were sold in any way that Thornton could, so they were not always in volume form. The first described print has definitely been bound at some time, hence the careless trimming of one margin
These are all fine examples, in good condition and with fresh original colouring.
The plates are described with the title and the names of the artist and engraver, shown below. Each plate has the imprint London, Published [date] by Dr Thornton. Only the dates are given here, to avoid repetition.
The prints are £2,500 each.
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The Sacred Egyptian Bean.
Henderson pinxt. Burke & Lewis sculpt. Decr. 1. 1804.
Peter Henderson. Thomas Burke & Frederick Christian Lewis.
Shown with three pyramids in the background.
Aquatint and stipple engraving, printed in colours and hand finished. One state only.
Watermark dates 1810
Image size: 516 x 385mm. Plate size: 567 x 445mm.
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The Quadrangular Passion-flower
Henderson pinxt. Hopwood sculpt. June 1. 1802.
Peter Henderson. James Hopwood senior.
Aquatint and stipple engraving and etching. Printed in colour and hand finished.
One state only.
Watermark: H. Smith 1810.
Image size: 460 x 363mm. Plate size: 550 x 405mm
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A Group of Carnations.
Henderson pinxt. Caldwall sculp. April 2nd 1803.
Peter Henderson. James Caldwall.
Aquatint and mezzotint with etching. Second state. The aquatinted sky has been removed, so the sky is plain in this state, which makes the flowers stand out better. The temple on the right had been re-engraved. Watermark: H. Smith 1810.
Image size: 460 x 360mm. Plate size: 520 x 400mm.
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