Rhs Orchids - by Charlotte Brooks (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"This beautifully produced book will be inspiring to botanical artists and all those who are captivated by the orchid." -- Leisure Painter

"Through these paintings, stories of high stakes orchid breeding and exhibiting are explored, with a cast of characters who helped shape the horticultural world we know today, alongside the dedicated artists who still support their endeavours." -- Lovely Books

Orchids have long held a place of esteem and fascination in the horticultural world. In the 19th century, orchid collecting reached new fanatical heights, with explorers dispatched to every corner of the globe in search of new varieties that could be auctioned at extravagant prices, and orchids are still one of the most popular flowers to breed and buy to this day. These beautiful, diverse flowers are one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with over 30,000 species and over 181,500 hybrids and cultivars.

The RHS Orchid Committee have commissioned watercolors of over 7,000 award-winning hybrids that demonstrate particular value in their fabulous array of colors, patterns, sizes and shapes. Through these paintings, stories of high stakes orchid breeding and exhibiting are explored, with a cast of characters who helped shape the horticultural world we know today, alongside the dedicated artists who still support their endeavors.

Review Quotes

"Through these paintings, stories of high stakes orchid breeding and exhibiting are explored, with a cast of characters who helped shape the horticultural world we know today, alongside the dedicated artists who still support their endeavours."--Lovely Books

The English Garden magazine features ACC Art Books title RHS Orchids on their "recommended to buy" page.--The English Garden magazine

"This beautifully produced book will be inspiring to botanical artists and all those who are captivated by the orchid."

About the Author

Charlotte Brooks is the Art Curator at the RHS Lindley Library in London, where she has worked with the botanical art collection for 15 years. She has published a number of short articles on aspects of the collection, as well as RHS Botanical Illustration: The Gold Medal Winners (ACC Art Books, 2019), and has an ongoing research interest into 19th century Anglo-Chinese botanical art. Charlotte also serves as Secretary to the RHS Botanical Art Judging Panel, which sees contemporary artists from all over the world exhibit their work.