Botanical Pears – the Illustrators

How gorgeous are these botanical illustrations of previous centuries? They encapsulate a true blend of art and science. At the time, they, and the books or journals in which they appeared, helped to expand our knowledge of the natural world. For a better view of the incredible detail, you can click the source links in the captions.

Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau (1700-1782)

… was not only a botanist, but a physician & naval engineer. He published nearly 90 works; studied architecture, agriculture, meteorology & more. An asteroid discovered in 1994 was named in his memory.

Giorgio Gallesio (1772-1839)

… was a lawyer & civil servant. His two major works were “Traité du citrus” (1811) & “Pomona Italiana”. Christie’s says Gallesio’s botanical “experiments on the development of varieties of fruit were quoted later by Charles Darwin”.

Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759-1840)

This was also from a book by Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau, although the artist is Redouté, thought to be one of the greatest botanical artists ever. He tutored Marie Antoinette, exhibited in The Louvre, & his two most famous books were of lilies and roses.

Abraham Jacobus Wendel (1826-1915)

… was a Dutch lithographer, draughtsman, & botanical & paleontological artist, contributing to many books & scientific journals, even the musical. His illustration of a lute & theorbo opened the Thysius Lute Book (Het Luitboek van Thysius, 1883, reference in caption).