lords and ladies

Arum maculatum (Lords and Ladies) from Flora Londinensis (1777-1787) published by William Curtis.
Hand-coloured engraving: 46cm x 31.5cm.
Flora Londinensis included all wild flowers growing within a ten mile radius of London, which was then surrounded by fields and undrained marshland. The hand-coloured illustrations are exceptionally delicate and precise so it is surprising that it failed to attract many subscribers. After ten years, Curtis had to admit financial defeat and in 1787, he produced the smaller Botanical Magazine, which is still in production today, over 200 years later.

Further information can be seen on Rhagor, the collections based website from Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales.

Arum maculatum (Pidyn y Gog) o Flora Londinensis (1777-1787) a gyhoeddwyd gan William Curtis.
Roedd Flora Londinensis yn cynnwys yr holl flodau gwyllt a dyfai o fewn deng milltir i Lundain, a oedd bryd hynny wedi’i amgylchynu gan gaeau a thir corsiog heb ei ddraenio. Mae’r darluniau a liwiwyd gyda llaw yn arbennig o gain a manwl, felly mae’n syndod na lwyddodd i ddenu nifer o danysgrifwyr. Ar ôl deng mlynedd, roedd yn rhaid i Curtis dderbyn methiant ariannol ac ym 1787, cynhyrchodd y Botanical Magazine llai, sydd yn parhau i gael ei gyhoeddi heddiw, dros 200 mlynedd yn ddiweddarach.

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