Another ‘treat’ in Horsham Museum’s watercolour collection

Museum Friend Rick Domas, who is preparing for a forthcoming talk, looks at two more interesting paintings.

In addition to finding my residence depicted in the museum’s watercolour collection, I recently came across two original botanical paintings prepared c1791–1800 for (William) Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, by either Sydenham Edwards or James Sowerby, two of the principal artists who prepared paintings for the magazine.

These original paintings were subsequently engraved on to copper plates, printed, hand-coloured, and assembled into volumes of about 100 botanical engravings per volume of Curtis’s Botanical Magazine.

What set the Botanical Magazine apart from other botanical publications of the time was its accessibility and appeal to a broad audience, including both professional botanists and amateur gardeners.

Curtis aimed to make botanical knowledge available to the general public, and his magazine was priced affordably to encourage widespread readership.

The high-quality illustrations, were a key factor in the magazine’s success, making it a valuable reference for anyone interested in plants.

And what Brit worth his/her salt is NOT interested in plants?

The Magazine remains in publication today, making it one of the longest-running botanical publications in history.

I both collect and deal in botanical engravings, so it was a real treat to come across original paintings ‘behind’ the engravings.

I’ll be discussing these and other watercolours in my presentation ‘Watercolours in the Horsham Museum Collection’, on Wednesday, July 30, 2pm, in the lounge of the Cornerstone Methodist Church, London Road, Horsham. Admission price is £5, refreshments included.