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Botanical Illustrations for Francis I of Austria
Prestel Publishing
June 2006
On Sale: May 30, 2006
304 pages
ISBN: 3791334921
EAN: 9783791334929
Hardcover
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Non-Fiction
Francis I of Austria, the last monarch to rule over the Holy Roman Empire, was also obsessed with flowers. His Imperial Gardens, where he realized his passion for flowers, remain one of Viennaβs most beloved treasures. In 1791, Francis I commissioned Matthias Schumtzer to paint portraits of every flower in the gardenβa project that took more than three decades to complete. Until now, only six of the extant 1,300 paintings have ever been published. This collection features one hundred of the most outstanding of Schmutzerβs watercolors. Painted life-size and with extraordinary precision, the flowers range from the exotic to the common. A fascinating text offers biographical information about Francis I, descriptions of the Imperial Gardens in the rulerβs time, and photographs of how they appear today. A significant contribution to horticultural history, this unique and beautifully presented book will delight lovers of botanical art and Europhiles alike.
 Media BuzzCBS Sunday Morning - December 17, 2006
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