Thornton, Dr. Robert John
The Night Blowing Cereus
Prices incl. VAT plus shipping costs
This item is sold. Please contact us if you are searching for this item.
- Published: London
- Published date: 1800
- Type: Print
- Issue date: 1800
- Technique: Aquatinta in original color.
- Size: 447 by 357mm (17½ by 14 inches).
- Stock number: 30850
- Condition: Overall in exellent condition, verso carefully restored near the left side of the plate.
Article description
Original fine engraved mezzotint and aquatint engraving, hand colored when published. Engraved for his series for his Temple of Flora by Dunkarton after Reinagle and Pether. Published in London at Dr. Robert John Thornton May, 20th 1800. "The plant shown in this picture [Selenicereus grandiflorus (L.) Britton & Rose]... is also known as the Moon Cactus, from the moon-like appearance of the fully open flower. Thornton also says that... it was sometimes called the `Torch Thistle' as it `exhibits to the observer a figure equally grotesque as terrific, with flowers possessing actually the blazing appearance of a torch.' The plant is a native of Jamaica and Cuba. This picture is one of the most arresting in the collection... The plant itself is of interest, not only for its large and beautiful flowers, but as a representative of those which, growing in a hot and dry environment, open their flowers at night for pollination by night-flying insects, pollinators being scarce in such climates during the heat of the day. This has a curious effect where public botanic gardens are concerned, since these are shut at night to visitors, who thus never see the plant in full bloom." (Ronald King. The Temple of Flora by Robert Thornton. 1981, p.74). Robert John Thornton (1768–1837) was an English physician and botanical writer, noted for "A New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus Von Linnæus" (1797-1807) and "The British Flora" of 1812. He was the son of Bonnell Thornton and studied at Trinity College, Cambridge. Inspired by John Martyn's lectures on botany and the work of Linnaeus he switched from the church to medicine. He worked at Guy's Hospital in London, where he later lectured in medical botany. After spending some time abroad, he settled and practised in London. Robert inherited the family fortune after the death of both his brother and mother. In 1799 Thornton commenced his work on the New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus von Linnaeus a work of botanical science to be published in three parts. The first was a dissertation on the sex of plants according to the Swedish scientist, Carolus von Linnaeus and the second an exposition of the sexual system.The most ambitious part of the New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus Linnæus was Part III, the Temple of Flora (1799-1807). The first plates were engraved by Thomas Medland in May 1798, from paintings by Philip Reinagle. Between 1798 and 1807, they produced a total of thirty-three coloured plates, engraved in aquatint, stipple and line engraving. When he planned the project, Thornton had decided to publish seventy folio-size plates. Lack of interest from the general public spelled disaster for the scheme, and the holding of a lottery could not save it from financial ruin, neither did a page in the work dedicated to the spouse of George III, Queen Charlotte, patroness of botany and the fine arts. It is estimated that around 800 copies were produced, each containing 31 plates accompanied by inspirational poetry and explanatory notes covering flower lore and legend. Thornton died in destitution.