The Temple of Flora, or Garden of Nature: The Pontic Rhododendron

1803

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

The Temple of Flora, or Garden of Nature: The Pontic Rhododendron is a 1803 by Robert John Thornton, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Robert John Thornton
When & what style?: 1803 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This painting shows a single pink flower in a pot on a rocky ledge. Tiny bugs and a butterfly hover near the bloom. Soft light casts shadows on the stone. It’s part of a giant book project. Thornton wanted art to teach botany, mixing science and beauty. The print looks almost like oil paint because of special engraving tricks. If this grabs you, hunt down Robert John Thornton (British, 1768–1837) next.

The story of this work

Overview

In the 18th century, new engraving and etching techniques offered a variety of tonal effects that enhanced botanical prints. While mezzotint (in which the plate is roughened and then the engraver works from dark to light creating different values) and stipple (dots create values) make it possible to create the rich tonal scale and velvety texture of oil paint, aquatint imitates the delicacy and transparency of watercolor and ink wash.

Read the full account in the museum source.