The Brilliant World of Botanical Art, Combining Beauty and Scientific Perspective
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest botanical gardens in the world, with a collection of over 220,000 pieces of botanical art.
Kew Gardens, as it is commonly known, began in 1759 as a small garden in southwest London opened by Princess Augusta, the mother of King George III. During the reign of King George III and Queen Charlotte, the garden was expanded dramatically in scale, and developed as a research institution amid the Enlightenment that was then sweeping across Europe.
This exhibition features items from Kew Gardens’ invaluable collection of 18th and 19th century botanical art, as well as a selection of ceramics from manufacturers including Wedgwood, whom was beloved by Queen Charlotte and made a purveyor to the royal household. The exhibition traces the development and changing historical context of the natural sciences and botanical art in England during a time of dramatic upheaval.
Botanical art brings together the scientific perspective of minute depiction and dazzling beauty. Please enjoy this opportunity to be surrounded by colorful flowers from all over the world.