Garden Eden : Masterpieces of Botanical Book Illustration

by H. Walter Lack

This survey of 483 fine color plates from outstanding works of botanical illustration from the 6th-20th centuries, paralleling a concurrent exhibit at the Austrian National Library in Vienna, indeed evokes the Garden of Eden. Lack (Free U. of Berlin), director of the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem, provides a trilingual German-English-French essay "on the diversity of the plant kingdom" and introductions to the work of each illustrator. The non-German text rates a smaller font size. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Nature, Plants, History, Gardening, Design

576 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Hans Walter Lack

Reviews

[Steffi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schwer zu glauben, dass dieser riesige Schatz an Pflanzenillustrationen aus nur einer einzigen Bibliothek, nämlich der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek, stammen. Wenn mir im Winter die blütenlose Tristesse an die Nieren geht, werde ich wieder in diesem Band blättern.

[Alex Khlopenko · Rating 3 out of 5]

A monument to the colonialist and imperialist endeavors and megalomania of the Habsburgs and Napoleons of history, who would invade countries and enslave people to collect a couple seeds for their garden

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous! Beautiful~ I have been eyeing this book for a while and so happy that this time I could bring it home from the library. I just love botanical drawings and this was a feast for the eyes.

[Charles Marsteller · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important book. In fact, the author (a real bona-fide authority!) says this book, the Florilegium Imperiale and the Jardin du Roy (in the era of Henri IV and Louis XIII) are the standout Florilegium in long history of botanical illustration.

The printing on this book is not as vibrant as the Florilegium Imperiale. Cannot tell if this is due to the originals (primarily by the Bauer Brothers) or by the publisher. The paper too would have assisted the presentation better if less stark (white).

The narrative is important and although the translation from German is evident, the message is clear. The history of the preservation of this work is also interesting...the travails of the European Wars...so we are lucky to see it now published for the first time.

I should add that I read the English Language edition of this book!

[Oleksandra Orlova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ця книжка значно більше на "подивитися", ніж на "почитати", але ця візуальна складова неоціненна. Велика частина традиції ботанічної гравюри (переважно, німецька та австрійська) в одному видання, довідник рослин та історія їх дослідження/фіксації (до того ж трьома мовами: англійською, німецькою, французькою).
TASCHEN ніколи не розчаровує, еге ж.

[Aisha R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! So informational and filled with beautiful illustrations

[Gioia Zappa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Per gli appassionati di storia e botanica è la combo perfetta per non parlare di altro almeno per due mesi.

[Mari]

Este libro es una belleza ♥

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

UGH SO PRETTY BUH