Adonis dentata

2006

Paper, Tempera, Acrylic paint

36x27

Alcea setosa

2005

Paper, Tempera, Acrylic paint

36x27

Allium ampeloprasum

2006

Paper, Tempera, Acrylic paint

36x27

Anemone coronaria

2005

Paper, Tempera, Acrylic paint

36x27

Antirrhinum majus

2007

Paper, Tempera, Acrylic paint

36x27

Arum palaestinum

2005

Paper, Tempera, Acrylic paint

36x27

Asphodeline brevicaulis

2007

Paper, Tempera, Acrylic paint

36x27

From ancient times people drew plants and animals. Undoubtedly, that this genre of art is the most ancient. Images of the world of the nature are found out in a paleolith, ancient Egypt, the Greek culture, Roman empire. During the Renaissance classical art and art of natural sciences developed in parallel, gradually approaching. To the beginning of 19-th century, these directions have finally merged. Botanical art became a hybrid from achievements of a science and art. If in Middle Ages botanical art was an illustration to the middle of 19-th century it was allocated in a special genre. It was difficult to find the house recognizing cultural, in which there would be no pictures of a botanical genre. It is possible to recognize as the beginning of a botanical genre illustrations made in 512 year of our era, made in Constantinople to the famous herbarium of Greek doctor Dioscorides. So there was known ancient manuscript Vindobonensis. From now on, botanical figures were only copies of monks which have made figures of known sources, but itself figures did not create. Later, in the Middle Ages, the engraving on a tree is extended. German Herbarius (1485), Hans Weiditz (1530) - these and other names mean a new epoch of botanical art. However it anything, in comparison with genius Albrecht Durer (May 21, 1471 - April 6, 1528) was a German painter, wood carver and engraver (http://www.jahsonic.com/AlbrechtDurer.html). In last part of the sixteenth century botanical art roughly develops from for developments of floriculture especially in Holland and Germany. Cultivation of ornamental plants joins concept of an aesthetics. To the beginning of the seventeenth century, cultivation of ornamental plants became luxurious. Many artists work in a genre of botanical art. For example, French botanical painter Pierre Vallet in 1608 has created pictures of a garden of the Louvre which was at that time, is filled by exotic examples of the blossoming plants brought by the French researchers, coming back of the Western Africa and Spain. It is known Maria Sibylla Merian, (1647 1717.) During this time she discovered and depicted the metamorphic process of the butterfly and moth. Maria was also one of the best flower painters of the seventeenth century of Holland. Swedish born, Carl Linnaeus and a German, George Ehret, met in Amsterdam about 1735. George Ehret used system Linnaean, for names of the pictures. Georges Dajonizis Ehret (1708-1770) became the most influential the artist of the Europe of the middle of the eighteenth century. Pierre Joseph Redoute 1749-1840 was one of the most popular and successful flower painters of France. It is difficult to name all bright names of botanical artists. In 17 19 centuries on each scientific expedition the botanical artist worked, or scientists perfectly drew. However in the end 19, the beginning of 20 centuries from for inventions and mass distribution of the camera, the serious damage has been caused to botanical art. Became accepted to think, that the photo can replace figure. From the beginning of 20 centuries many traditions and the well-known schools of botanical art have ceased to exist. It seemed, that this genre of art was lost for ever. However from the middle of 60 years it became clear, that the photo is not capable to replace figure in biology. Now, unfortunately, very much not many artists devote the creativity to botanical art. Galleries and sites of these artists are not so popular, as other artists, but the contribution of these people to art very significant and important. The known German poet and the playwright, Goethe has told, that the botanical artist differs from the artist of a still-life that should satisfy not only the fan of superficial beauty, but should give the truth through beauty of the truth. This exclusively true remark. Figure of botanical art should be not only is beautiful, but also scientifically exact. It demands from the artist not only art, but also scientific training and practice.

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