George
Dionysus Ehret was one of the most important botanical artists in an era now
commonly acknowledged as ‘The Golden Age’ of illustrated botanical works (1730
- 1830); a period of unprecedented progress in the field of botanical research,
interest and illustration. Theory at that time was dominated by the new systems
of classification devised by Carl Linneaus whose celebrated Systema Natura was published in 1735.
Born in Heidelberg in 1708, Ehret
settled in England in 1736. It was here
that he won the friendship and patronage of Sir Hans Sloane, founder of the
Chelsea Physic Garden and president of the Royal Society. With Sloane's support, Ehret obtained open
access not only to the Chelsea Physic Garden but also to every other important
British garden. Ehret's drawings from
this period provided material for his most celebrated works.
Between 1748 and 1749, Ehret
published Plantae et Papilliones Rariores, focusing on exotic and
decorative plants with an approach less scientific than in later works. Plantae Selectae, was published between
1750 and 1753 by Dr Trew in Nuremberg, and examined plants newly introduced
into Europe with specimens from the Tropics and North America given special
prominence. Engraved in Germany by
Johann Jacob Hand, the plates were then hand-coloured to superb effect with
some plates having paint so liberally applied that at times the engraved line
beneath is totally obscured.
Throughout his career Ehret remained
an acclaimed and prolific artist. He
attracted the patronage not only of Trew and Sloane but also of the Duchess of
Portland, the Duke of Richmond and countless other prominent eighteenth century
figures. Today, Ehret's works stand
as stunning reminders of the sumptuous nature of eighteenth century botanical
illustration.
