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Radnorshire Fine Arts Ltd
Tel01597 272 439or07790 208 712Please quote Antiques Atlas.
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+44 1597 272 439
or +44 7790 208 712
or +44 7790 208 712
Dr Robert John Thornton (1768-1837)
The American Cowslip (Dodecatheon)
Engraved by Warner after Henderson, from the book entitled The Temple of Flora by Dr Robert John Thornton (1768-1837). The book was published between 1799 and 1807.
Mixed media engraving (aquatint, mezzotint, color printing and hand-coloring over stipple engraving) on J Whatman. Published May 1. 1801 by Dr. Thornton
Robert John Thornton began his career as a doctor. In 1797, he opened a successful practice in London. Meanwhile, he had become deeply interested in botany under the influence of Thomas Martyn’s lectures and the writings of Linnaeus. In 1797, he also began advertising for subscribers to his planned natural history publishing venture, which eventually became known as The Temple of Flora, comprised of 30 folio botanical plates (generally issued with just 28), as well as two classical allegorical plates. It was originally published as the third section of an extensive and ambitious botanical publication titled New Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus. Thornton retained some of the best artists of the day to compose the various images, as well as the best engravers to translate their work into print. Most of the images were painted by Peter Charles Henderson and Philip Reinagle, with two by Abraham Pether, who also rendered the moonlight in Reinagle’s Night-blowing Cereus, one of the best-known images from the set. The remaining two plates were painted by Sydenham Edwards and Thornton himself, who created the famous plate of Roses. The engravers were a similarly distinguished group, including Richard Earlom, James Caldwall, Thomas Sutherland, and Joseph Constantine Stadler. Some of the plates are executed in one engraved or etched medium, some in a combination of two or more, including stipple engraving, aquatint, and mezzotint. They were printed in basic colors and then enhanced with hand coloring. In 1812, Thornton had The Temple of Flora set re-engraved on a small scale for a quarto edition, with some of the compositions slightly altered. Some examples from the smaller formatted edition may have been given as prizes during the Royal Botanic Lottery under the patronage of the Prince Regent. Thornton organized the lottery when faced with bankruptcy after sales of the folio publication failed to recoup his investment, having spared no expense in its production. The lottery apparently failed to salvage his finances, and Thornton died with little money. The whereabouts of the original paintings, also included in the lottery are mostly unknown. Nevertheless, The Temple of Flora remains admired as the greatest illustrated botanical set ever published in Britain for its outstanding aesthetic and imaginative qualities. PAYMENT OPTIONS
Cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay can be processed through Stripe on our company website. We also accept payment by cheque and bank transfer. We offer two methods of paying by instalments the first is with Stripe, 'Klarna' / Pay in 3 monthly interest free instalments. Deferred payments can also be accepted over an agreed period of time whilst paintings remain with us, this method is also interest free. With Stripe the item will be shipped after the first instalment has cleared.
CONDITION AND PRESENTATION
If a picture is shown to be framed, then the frame will be included with the sale of the picture. All the pictures we offer are available for purchase in the condition you see them advertised. More details including high resolution images can be sent for closer inspection. For added protection unframed and mounted pictures are wrapped in clear polyester film before shipping to the customer.
SellerRadnorshire Fine Arts Ltd
View all stock from
Radnorshire Fine Arts Ltd
Private dealer
By appointment only
Powys
Mid Wales
Tel : 01597 272 439
or : 07790 208 712
Non UK callers : +44 1597 272 439 or +44 7790 208 712
Engraved by Warner after Henderson, from the book entitled The Temple of Flora by Dr Robert John Thornton (1768-1837). The book was published between 1799 and 1807.
Mixed media engraving (aquatint, mezzotint, color printing and hand-coloring over stipple engraving) on J Whatman. Published May 1. 1801 by Dr. Thornton
Robert John Thornton began his career as a doctor. In 1797, he opened a successful practice in London. Meanwhile, he had become deeply interested in botany under the influence of Thomas Martyn’s lectures and the writings of Linnaeus. In 1797, he also began advertising for subscribers to his planned natural history publishing venture, which eventually became known as The Temple of Flora, comprised of 30 folio botanical plates (generally issued with just 28), as well as two classical allegorical plates. It was originally published as the third section of an extensive and ambitious botanical publication titled New Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus. Thornton retained some of the best artists of the day to compose the various images, as well as the best engravers to translate their work into print. Most of the images were painted by Peter Charles Henderson and Philip Reinagle, with two by Abraham Pether, who also rendered the moonlight in Reinagle’s Night-blowing Cereus, one of the best-known images from the set. The remaining two plates were painted by Sydenham Edwards and Thornton himself, who created the famous plate of Roses. The engravers were a similarly distinguished group, including Richard Earlom, James Caldwall, Thomas Sutherland, and Joseph Constantine Stadler. Some of the plates are executed in one engraved or etched medium, some in a combination of two or more, including stipple engraving, aquatint, and mezzotint. They were printed in basic colors and then enhanced with hand coloring. In 1812, Thornton had The Temple of Flora set re-engraved on a small scale for a quarto edition, with some of the compositions slightly altered. Some examples from the smaller formatted edition may have been given as prizes during the Royal Botanic Lottery under the patronage of the Prince Regent. Thornton organized the lottery when faced with bankruptcy after sales of the folio publication failed to recoup his investment, having spared no expense in its production. The lottery apparently failed to salvage his finances, and Thornton died with little money. The whereabouts of the original paintings, also included in the lottery are mostly unknown. Nevertheless, The Temple of Flora remains admired as the greatest illustrated botanical set ever published in Britain for its outstanding aesthetic and imaginative qualities. PAYMENT OPTIONS
Cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay can be processed through Stripe on our company website. We also accept payment by cheque and bank transfer. We offer two methods of paying by instalments the first is with Stripe, 'Klarna' / Pay in 3 monthly interest free instalments. Deferred payments can also be accepted over an agreed period of time whilst paintings remain with us, this method is also interest free. With Stripe the item will be shipped after the first instalment has cleared.
CONDITION AND PRESENTATION
If a picture is shown to be framed, then the frame will be included with the sale of the picture. All the pictures we offer are available for purchase in the condition you see them advertised. More details including high resolution images can be sent for closer inspection. For added protection unframed and mounted pictures are wrapped in clear polyester film before shipping to the customer.
Price The price has been listed in British Pounds.
Conversion rates as of 8/DEC/2025. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer. SOLD
DimensionsSheet 21 3/8 x 16 7/8 in.(54.2 cm x 42.8 cm.)
Image 17 1/2 in x 18 1/8 in.(44.5 cm x 35.5 cm.)
Mount 25 3/4 in x 21 1/8 in.(65.5 cm x 53.5 cm.)
Category Antique Pictures / Engravings / Art
Date 1801
Early 19th Century Antiques Material Paper
Origin British
Artist Dr Robert John Thornton
Condition Sheet (trimmed within plate). The print has been cleaned and mounted by an accredited paper conservator.
Item code as176a411
Status Sold
£0 
$0.00 
€0.00 
$
€
Conversion rates as of 8/DEC/2025. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer. SOLD
Shipping information
All our prices include FREE packing and delivery within the UK.
If you live outside the UK and you wish to purchase a painting, please contact us by phone or e-mail for further details concerning shipping costs.
If you live outside the UK and you wish to purchase a painting, please contact us by phone or e-mail for further details concerning shipping costs.
Terms and conditions
Returns and Complaints
Great care and trouble has been taken to ensure that all details written for every picture are correct and the photos are of sufficient quality so that each item can be viewed in detail. If the purchaser can find a fault (by way of a photograph) as proof of damage in transit that is not present in our promotional photo i.e. a tear in the canvas, broken glass, broken frame, damage to surface of picture, then a full or part refund will be offered back to the purchaser depending on the extent of the damage. This will only apply within 24 hours of signing for the parcel.
If the parcel has arrived and appears to be damaged in some way please return the parcel to us (unopened) and we will refund the purchase price on receipt of the picture.
If the purchaser can prove with written evidence from three independent experts that our description was false or misleading in any way then a full refund will be offered back to the purchaser.
Every effort has been made to give our clients complete confidence and satisfaction when buying from our company.
Great care and trouble has been taken to ensure that all details written for every picture are correct and the photos are of sufficient quality so that each item can be viewed in detail. If the purchaser can find a fault (by way of a photograph) as proof of damage in transit that is not present in our promotional photo i.e. a tear in the canvas, broken glass, broken frame, damage to surface of picture, then a full or part refund will be offered back to the purchaser depending on the extent of the damage. This will only apply within 24 hours of signing for the parcel.
If the parcel has arrived and appears to be damaged in some way please return the parcel to us (unopened) and we will refund the purchase price on receipt of the picture.
If the purchaser can prove with written evidence from three independent experts that our description was false or misleading in any way then a full refund will be offered back to the purchaser.
Every effort has been made to give our clients complete confidence and satisfaction when buying from our company.
View all stock from
Radnorshire Fine Arts Ltd
Private dealerBy appointment only
Powys
Mid Wales
Tel : 01597 272 439
or : 07790 208 712
Non UK callers : +44 1597 272 439 or +44 7790 208 712
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Mary Fedden Print
A lovely late Victorian print of a child playing
Marilyn Monroe - by Martin Alton 1983 for Athena
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