Garden Eden

by H. Walter Lack, Taschen (Creator)

The long tradition of botanical illustration has its tribute in this new book, whose publication coincides with the occasion of an exhibition of botanical illustration at the National Library of Vienna. TASCHEN has chosen over 500 works from the library's extensive archives to be reproduced in A Garden Eden: Masterpieces of Botanical Book Illustration. Beginning with 6th century Byzantine manuscripts, A Garden Eden traces the tradition right up through recent publications of the 20th century. The color reproductions are exquisite, but you might be too busy staring at the lovely flowers to notice. Heavenly!

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Nature, Plants, History, Gardening, Collections

576 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Hans Walter Lack

Reviews

[Steffi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schwer zu glauben, dass dieser riesige Schatz an Pflanzenillustrationen aus nur einer einzigen Bibliothek, nämlich der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek, stammen. Wenn mir im Winter die blütenlose Tristesse an die Nieren geht, werde ich wieder in diesem Band blättern.

[Alex Khlopenko · Rating 3 out of 5]

A monument to the colonialist and imperialist endeavors and megalomania of the Habsburgs and Napoleons of history, who would invade countries and enslave people to collect a couple seeds for their garden

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous! Beautiful~ I have been eyeing this book for a while and so happy that this time I could bring it home from the library. I just love botanical drawings and this was a feast for the eyes.

[Charles Marsteller · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important book. In fact, the author (a real bona-fide authority!) says this book, the Florilegium Imperiale and the Jardin du Roy (in the era of Henri IV and Louis XIII) are the standout Florilegium in long history of botanical illustration.

The printing on this book is not as vibrant as the Florilegium Imperiale. Cannot tell if this is due to the originals (primarily by the Bauer Brothers) or by the publisher. The paper too would have assisted the presentation better if less stark (white).

The narrative is important and although the translation from German is evident, the message is clear. The history of the preservation of this work is also interesting...the travails of the European Wars...so we are lucky to see it now published for the first time.

I should add that I read the English Language edition of this book!

[Oleksandra Orlova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ця книжка значно більше на "подивитися", ніж на "почитати", але ця візуальна складова неоціненна. Велика частина традиції ботанічної гравюри (переважно, німецька та австрійська) в одному видання, довідник рослин та історія їх дослідження/фіксації (до того ж трьома мовами: англійською, німецькою, французькою).
TASCHEN ніколи не розчаровує, еге ж.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

El libro es lo que dice la sinopsis, un compendio de las obras botánicas más destacadas de la librería Nacional de Viena. Por cada libro hay una pequeña introducción y una o varias reproducciones de las imágenes. Las ilustraciones son maravillosas y tienen muy buena calidad de impresión. También está bien el texto explicativo que las acompaña.
Curioso que de los más de 90 libros que se describen, ninguno sea de una ilustradora botánica.

[Aisha R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! So informational and filled with beautiful illustrations

[Mari]

Este libro es una belleza ♥

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

UGH SO PRETTY BUH