Robert John Thornton
Pionier prächtiger botanischer Illustrationen
Robert John Thornton war ein englischer Arzt und botanischer Schriftsteller, bekannt für „Eine neue Illustration des Sexualsystems von Carolus Von Linnæus" (1797-1807) und „Die britische Flora" von 1812. Er war der Sohn von Bonnell Thornton und studierte am Trinity College in Cambridge. Inspiriert durch John Martyns Vorlesungen zur Botanik und die Werke von Linnaeus wechselte er vom Kirchendienst zur Medizin. Er arbeitete im Guy's Hospital in London, wo er später medizinische Botanik lehrte. Nach einiger Zeit im Ausland ließ er sich in London nieder und praktizierte dort. 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.
Artworks by this artist (108 total)
- Hyacinths 1807
- American bog plants. I Fetid pothos. II Pitcher plant. III Venus’s fly trap 1807
- The blue Egyptian water-lily 1807
- The superb lily 1807
- A Vegetable Monster. Garden Poppy 1799[-]1810
- Anatomy of the Nodding Renealmia 1799[-]1810
- Artichoke in Flower 1799[-]1810
- Calla Ethiopica, or African Calla 1799[-]1810
- Flora dispensing her favours on the earth 1807
- Green Ixia; Ixia spectabilis; seu maculata viridis. 1799[-]1810
- Vegetable Monsters [Piony] 1799[-]1810
- A group of auriculas. 1807
- A group of carnations 1807
- Cardamine Pratensis ; or Common Ladies-smock 1799[-]1810
- 1. Ficus. The Fig. 1799[-]1810
- Anatomy of the blue Egyptian Water-Lily 1799[-]1810
- Anatomy of the Night-blowing Cereus; or Cactus Grandiflora of Linnaeus 1799[-]1810
- Anatomy of the Sweet Pea 1799[-]1810
- Ferraria Tigrida 1799[-]1810
- Male & Female Flowers on the same Plant. Carex Pendula ; or Great Pendulous Carex 1799[-]1810