Beautiful Pharmacopoeia

19th century botanical illustrations are a rare and perhaps nearly forgotten display where science and the arts intertwine. We are all accustomed to the appreciation of full floral blossoms and buds whether they be printed, photographed, or carefully arranged in a vase for the sole purpose to aid in the visual appeal of our surroundings. The anatomical illustrations of various plant specimens, however, can be just as admirable and even a bit more interesting than the familiar allover pattern of roses.

Development of the pharmaceutical industry grew rapidly in the 19th century and banks of new information were published through advanced printing processes. This, in turn, created a new career for artists as botanical illustrators. Botanical illustrators worked in watercolor and consulted with scientists to depict the anatomy, color, and fine details of plant species which benefited the discovery of new medicines.

Medicinal plant specimen have been depicted since the beginning of human civilization, but the 19th century illustrators refined and developed the scientific visual aids into a unique and beautiful category of its own. I recently found some of these images on the Internet and printed 8x10 pictures and framed four of them in my bathroom. Of course the botanical illustrations I chose were not ones that are known for their poison extractions, but instead found beautiful depictions of "bathroom relevant specimen" such as aloe vera.

There is something quite interesting and beautiful about the illustration of the deconstructed flowering plants. Perhaps it's because an art so ancient still remains to look so modern.