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Jane W. Loudon
The Ladies' Flower Garden of Ornamental
Perennials
1844
We are pleased to offer a selection of EXTREMELY RARES lavish botanical prints after illustrations by Jane Loudon, showing various species of bulbous plants arranged in decorative bouquets, which was Loudon innovation.
Jane Webb Loudon was the wife of John Claudius Loudon, an important nineteenth-century landscape gardener and horticultural writer. She worked alongside her husband on his literary projects and became a horticultural authority in her own right. Widowed early, she supported herself with popular horticultural writing and illustration, producing a series of volumes on annuals, perennials, greenhouse plants, bulbs, wildflowers and so forth. Mrs. Loudon's immensely popular prints were largely responsible for making gardening a respectable pursuit for the Victorian gentlewoman.
Until Loudon, botanicals featured either a single specimen or flowers that belonged to a specific category of scientific classification, Loudon took the approach of a gardener gathering the current blooms and arranging them artistically.
"Loudon developed a simple formula for these works, combining a brief text with charming illustrations, an arrangement that appealed to her audience. For each plant a brief botanical description was provided, including its common name in English, its order and genus, some historical notes, and instructions regarding its cultivation (An Oak Spring Flora p.326)".
THIS PLATES ARE HAND COLORED, WITH BRIGHT VIVID COLOR VERY BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFULLY DATAILED SO CHARACTERIST OF THE FIRST EDITION.
ARTWORK REALISED BY WILLIAM DAY AND LOUIS HAGHE, TALENTED LITHOGRAPHERS AND WATERCOLOUR ARTISTS IN LONDON, THAT IN 1829 FORMED DAY & HAGHE: THE MOST FAMOUS EARLY VICTORIAN FIRM OF LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING IN LONDON. IN 1838 THEY WHERE APPOINTED 'LITHOGRAPHERS TO THE QUEEN'
Each print measures approximately 8" 1/2 inches wide by 10 3/4 inches long.
The condition of these print is very good with light or no foxing.
All our prints are authentic hand colored antique prints
References include:
Nissen 1237;
Great Flower Books (1990), p.115.;
An Oak Spring Flora p.326.