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'Astonishing' rare plant paintings on display in Oxford | 'Astonishing' rare plant paintings on display in Oxford |
(1 day later) | |
The paintings behind one of the rarest and most expensive botanical and zoological books have gone on display. | The paintings behind one of the rarest and most expensive botanical and zoological books have gone on display. |
The Flora Graeca took 34 years (1806-40) to produce and contains watercolour paintings by botanical artist Ferdinand Bauer. | |
He made hundreds of sketches during a two-year trip in Greece and Turkey before spending six years painting them in Oxford, where they are being shown. | He made hundreds of sketches during a two-year trip in Greece and Turkey before spending six years painting them in Oxford, where they are being shown. |
Curator Stephen Harris said they were "astonishingly accurate". | Curator Stephen Harris said they were "astonishingly accurate". |
Only 25 copies of the book were published, due to it having 10 double folio volumes and numerous illustrations, and it then cost more than £620. | Only 25 copies of the book were published, due to it having 10 double folio volumes and numerous illustrations, and it then cost more than £620. |
The display, at the Weston Library, also includes paintings of marine animals never seen in public before. | The display, at the Weston Library, also includes paintings of marine animals never seen in public before. |
It is estimated Bauer, who died in 1826, made a painting every one-and-a-half days and used a unique numbering system to ensure he used the most accurate colours. | It is estimated Bauer, who died in 1826, made a painting every one-and-a-half days and used a unique numbering system to ensure he used the most accurate colours. |
In some cases, he saw the plant or animal once and painted it up to six years later. | In some cases, he saw the plant or animal once and painted it up to six years later. |
Mr Harris said: "Bauer's paintings are among the world's finest natural history illustrations. | Mr Harris said: "Bauer's paintings are among the world's finest natural history illustrations. |
"It's great to be able to show the materials, methods and processes Bauer used to produce these remarkable paintings and show them in the city where they were created." | "It's great to be able to show the materials, methods and processes Bauer used to produce these remarkable paintings and show them in the city where they were created." |
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