Banks’ Florilegium comprises an astonishing 743 botanical engravings of plants collected by Sir Joseph Banks and Dr Daniel Solander in Maderia, Brazil, Tierra del Fuego, the Society Islands, New Zealand, Australia and Java on Captain Cook’s first voyage round the world in His Majesty’s Bark Endeavour, 1768–1771. On his return to London in 1771, Banks determined to publish a grand scientific record of his botanical collection. Over thirteen years, while Daniel Solander prepared the accompanying botanical texts, Banks employed five artists to complete the field sketches drawn on board ship from the fresh specimens by Sydney Parkinson, and eighteen engravers to create exquisite copperplate line engravings from the drawings. All of the plants included for publication were new to European botany. By 1784 all of the plates had been completed but, for a variety of reasons, Banks delayed publication. On his death in 1820, having served as President of the Royal Society for forty years and recognized as the great panjandrum of European science, Banks bequeathed his library and herbarium, together with the Florilegium plates, to the British Museum. NAVIGATING COOK presented in collaboration with @hordern_house. Explore online or book an appointment to view in person. [email protected]. #navigatingcook #michaelreidnavigatingcook #michaelreidsydney #michaelreidberlin @hordern_house #hordernhouse #australianart #captaincook #nicicumpston #lucydyson #marcetherington #rewhanks (at Michael Reid Sydney) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_-nDUBA8nm/?igshid=1xh3oev3seqeu
