Explorers of Nature Art:
This presentation will focus on four great natural history artists. We will begin with Mark Catesby, an English country squire turned adventurer. Catesby was a New World explorer during the colonial period, and his images of flora and fauna introduced the wonders of Florida to a European audience. Catesby seems to have had a playful streak, as is reflected in his unusual portrayal of the flamingo. Then, we will look at William Bartram, whose family established the historic Bartram’s Garden in Philadelphia and counted Ben Franklin as a friend. Bartram traveled south to explore Florida, where he canoed across a lake full of alligators and lived to sketch the creatures. Because of his love of botany, he was given the name “Flower Hunter” by the Seminole. Both of these artists are featured in my book, Early Nature Artists in Florida.
Then, in honor of McKee’s beautiful orchids, we will look at Franz Bauer, who was appointed by Sir Joseph Banks as the first Resident Artist for Kew Gardens. Bauer specialized in orchids and helped to develop the scientific aspects of botanical art. We will conclude with the great artist of water lilies, Claude Monet. Monet imported exotic species of water lilies so that he could plant them in his gardens at Giverny. Water lilies provided him with unending inspiration; they are the theme of hundreds of his paintings. Monet knew that with the beauty of water lilies, there is always more to discover!
- Members: $10
- Non- Members $15
