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The Botanic Garden
| Susan's
idea of using these books as the basis of her new design was
revolutionary. No one in the ceramic world had brought out a
pattern using a variety of floral motifs for many years. |
|
The
first book she purchased, Green's 'Herbal' (otherwise known
as 'The Universal'), provided Susan with a number of motifs
but she needed more material and therefore began to hunt through
the London antiquarian booksellers' shops. The second book
she purchased, 'The Moral of Flowers', dated 1835, was destined
to have a fundamental influence on the new pattern.
This particular copy of 'The Moral of Flowers' was inscribed
'To Julia'; it had originally been a gift from Julia's brother
on 24th February 1835 - doubtless a birthday present. Such
books were very popular. A polite interest in flowers and
botany was considered suitable and attractive in young ladies
at that time, and a great many elegantly illustrated books
were produced as Christmas and birthday presents, or as tokens
of affection. These were often called 'Tea Table Books' and
filled the role of today's 'Coffee Table' books, as a source
of conversation with guests after dinner or when visitors
called.
|
Lonicera Periclymenum Honeysuckle
Another perfect example of an illustration taken from Mrs. Hey's
Moral of Flowers, illustrated by William Clarke, 1835. |
|
|
 The
author of 'The Moral of Flowers' was later revealed as a Mrs.
Hey. She put together her own poems and a good deal of prose
and verse with literary and moral reflections on forty eight
different plants from oak trees to daisies. To sweeten the
pill she, or the publisher, had obtained the help of a highly
regarded draughtsman, Mr. William Clarke, who had formerly
worked for the prestigious Horticultural Society (today the
Royal Horticultural Society). William Clarke's twenty four
beautifully coloured and delicately engraved plates provided
Susan with eight motifs for her new pattern.
|
| As
Botanic Garden developed, new motifs were introduced, (as noted
already), and for these Susan sought new flowers. After seeing
how much people liked all CIark's pictures, she purchased more
volumes illustrated by him. Two such were Morris's 'Flora Conspicua'
and three volumes of 'Medical Botany' by Stephenson and Churchill.
From these came five flowers such as the 'Peony' and the 'Christmas
Rose'. We have not been able to find out much about William
Clark, but he may well have died during the publication of 'Medical
Botany' which was issued in monthly parts. In the early parts,
Clark's work is often featured, but there are none of his illustrations
in the later volumes. |
SHRUBBY
PEONY
Drawn & engraved by W. Clarke London published by Smith
Elder & Co. 65 Cornhill, Oct. 1825 |
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