Tuesday 30 June 2015

Rare first and only edition of an exceptionally beautiful book

I like the "Intended for young ladies" bit.



 

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last update:
24-Jun-2015

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Rare and beautiful model prints for flower painting, intended for young women,
by a leading Meissen porcelain painter









LÜCK, Johann Friedrich (or a son).  Eerste handleiding tot de bloem- teken- schilder- en borduurkonst, in XXIV. voorbeelden van bloemen en vruchten, in omtrekken en kleuren, nevens eene tafel der onderscheidene verwen.
Amsterdam, W. Holtrop, 1802. Oblong 8vo (text) and oblong small 4to (plates) (12 x 17.5 cm). With loose full-page engraved colour-key plate showing 66 numbered small rectangles, hand-coloured as samples of watercolours, and 24 loose full-page engraved plates, each with a pair (or in one case 2 pair) of nearly identical flowering or fruit-bearing plants (plate size 9.5 x 14 cm), the left-hand examples left uncoloured and the right-hand examples coloured as a guide. Complete with the undated prospectus (one 8vo leaf, 22.5 x 12.5 cm, printed on both sides) with an engraved tulip at the head, nearly identical to no. 13 in the plates, but differently coloured. Loose in (later?) green paper wrapper, in contemporary slipcase covered with marbled paper. The 25 prints with gilt edges.

Orders and Information

 

€ 15000

Saalmink, p. 1195 (1 copy); Picarta (same copy); WorldCat (same copy).
Rare first and only edition of an exceptionally beautiful model book for painting, colouring and embroidery, mainly of flowers and fruits, designed by a painter from the famous Saxon porcelain factory at Meissen. The title-page merely calls him "Lück", but he must be either Johann Heinrich Lück (1727-1797), one of the most famous Meissen porcelain painters, or (since it does not indicate that he had recently died) possibly a son. The booklet accompanying the prints includes 11 pages of instructions and advice, and a numbered list of the 66 pigments used for the colour key.
The prospectus includes a numbered list of the flower plates (and notes the colour key), a French poem by De Lille (both also present in the album itself), and a letter by the publisher addressed to "Nederlandsche Juffers" (Dutch young ladies), especially recommending Lück's models for their "creations with brush and needle". If accepted gratefully, the publisher would consider a second volume as well, but none appeared. We have located only one other copy (at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam).
In fine condition. Rare popular guide to flower painting, intended for young ladies, by a leading painter of Meissen porcelain.

A. Asher & Co. B.V. 16 Tuurdijk, 3997 MS 't Goy-Houten, The Netherlands,
Phone +31(0)30 601 1955, Fax +31 (0)30 601 1813,

 


Saturday 27 June 2015

Why Do You Draw?

The email below landed in my Inbox recently and it somehow resonated with me. For all the 'newbies' and not so 'newbies' out there - take heart!

Mark making is one of the oldest forms of communication we have. Drawing – of symbols – was the first way we communicated with each other across time and space. Of course we have language, and the Internet now. Much more efficient.

Why do we still draw?
I don't think there's a simple answer to that question – or, I think that there are many answers. Yours may be different from mine.
As you probably know, I run a members forum for drawing, what I call an art practice community, called Creative Triggers. The other day, one of our longest running members posted something on the members' forum that I will never forget. His name is Steve, and it's his personal story of his three-year journey (so far) of learning to draw.

What follows is in Steve's own words:
It's now officially three years since I started art. And I mean art as in deliberately doing a quick sketch, a drawing, a painting, things along those lines. Art for art's sake. I hadn't actually drawn anything for the sake of drawing since childhood.

Reasons for taking it up?

Thursday 25 June 2015

London’s Secret Garden



Plant portraits from Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium Society

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of Chelsea Physic Garden’s Florilegium Society, an exhibition of paintings and drawings will be held at the Garden in August. It will feature works from some of today’s finest botanical artists.

Many of the works of art in the exhibition will be included in the Society’s new book entitled Botanical Illustration from Chelsea Physic Garden (click to see a sample) written by Andrew Brown with contributions from Christopher Bailes, Phillip Cribb and Anne-Marie Evans. The book can be purchased from the publishers or locally in South Africa from loot.co.za.

The Florilegium Society was formed in 1995 with the explicit aim of recording in paintings and drawings the huge collection of plants growing in the Chelsea Physic Garden. Each year selected works are donated to the Garden’s ever expanding archive. Find out more about the Florilegium Society. The exhibition runs from 4 – 26 August 2015, 11am – 4pm.  Entrance to the exhibition is free with entry to the Garden.

Tuesday 23 June 2015

Amorphophallus titanum (titan arum)

Anybody want to paint this one lifesize?

News from Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh:
For the past few weeks, we have watched our Amorphophallus titanum, the world’s biggest and smelliest flower, grow bigger by the day. Nicknamed ‘New Reekie’, it now measures well over seven feet (230cm) and is getting ready to come into full bloom - a first for the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and for Scotland.
Our Amorphophallus titanum is so important it has its own page on our main website. Here you will find some of the back stories and further reading on the plant we are calling “New Reekie”.

Also take a look at Botanics Stories about New Reekie

Saturday 20 June 2015

A Rock Art Jewel - Africa Geographic

It's not botanical art, but a fascinating read nevertheless.


The author of the article colour matching on site.  ©Stephen Townley Bassett


An exhibition "Tracing the Cosmos – follow the brush strokes of the cave artists" runs from 24th June to 30th August 2015 at the Origins Centre, Wits University, Johannesburg. The Christmas Shelter artwork will form part of this exhibition.

Wednesday 10 June 2015

Auriol Batten has left us a wonderful legacy...

Auriol Batten, an Honorary Life Member of BAASA, has left a wonderful legacy of botanical art to the world. Sincere condolences to her family from all at BAASA.

image not displayed
World mourns death of artist | DispatchLIVE
World-renowned horticultural artist Dr Auriol Batten, who devoted much of her life to painting and drawing South African plants in meticulous detai...

Click on the link above to see the full obituary in the Daily Dispatch.

To read an interview with Auriol in a 2006 BAASA newsletter click here.