- Franz Bauer
Infobox Artist
name = Franz Andreas Bauer
birthdate =14 March 1758
location =Valtice ,Czech Republic
deathdate =11 December 1840
deathplace =Kew ,England
nationality =Austria n
field =Botanical illustrator
training = Father Norbert Boccius
movement =
works = "Delineations of Exotick Plants", "Illustrations of Orchidaceous Plants", "Strelitzia Depicta"
patrons =King George III
influenced by =
influenced =William Hooker
awards =Franz Andreas Bauer (later Francis), born
14 March 1758 in Feldsberg (nowValtice ,Czech Republic ) - died11 December 1840 inKew , England, was an Austrian botanical artist.He was the son of Lucas Bauer, († 1761), court painter to the Prince of Liechtenstein, and brother of the painters Josef Anton andFerdinand Bauer . After Lucas Bauer's death, his wife, Therese continued to give her three sons lessons in art and illustration. Josef succeeded his father as court painter and eventually became keeper of the gallery inVienna .Francis and Ferdinand acquired their first experience of botanical illustration with the arrival of Father Norbert Boccius, Abbot of Feldsberg, in 1763, and produced over 2000 watercolour drawings of plant specimens under his guidance. They were then employed by Count Dietrichstein as flower painters in
Vienna - Franz illustrated works by the BaronNikolaus Joseph von Jacquin and his son BaronJoseph Franz von Jacquin at the Schönbrunn Imperial Gardens; Franz then accompanied the latter to London. There Jacquin the younger introduced him toSir Joseph Banks , who, recognizing his extraordinary talent, secured him a position as first botanical illustrator at theRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Museum, at an annual salary of £300. He stayed there for the rest of his life, producing a wealth of superb botanical and anatomical illustrations, became member of theRoyal Society and was appointed ‘Botanick Painter to His Majesty'King George III .By 1790 Bauer had settled in at Kew, and was involved in detailed paintings and drawings of flower dissections, often at microscopic level, and taking great care in the hand-colouring of lithographic copies of his work. During this time he tutored
Queen Charlotte , Princess Elizabeth andWilliam Hooker in the art of illustration, and often entertained friends and botanists at his home. His legacy is to be found in such sumptuous publications as "Delineations of Exotick Plants" (1796-1803), his collaboration with John Lindley "Illustrations of Orchidaceous Plants" (1830-38), and his delicate lithographs in "Strelitzia Depicta" (1818).Works illustrated
*"Delineations of Exotick Plants cultivated in the Royal Garden at Kew. Drawn and coloured and the Botanical characters displayed according to the Linnean System by Francis Bauer". Published by
William Aiton , d.c. (Preface bySir Joseph Banks .) 1796-83*"The Genera and Species of Orchidaceous Plants, illustrated by drawings on stone from the sketches of Francis Bauer"by
John Lindley . London, Ridgways and Treuttel, Wurtz, 1830-1838.*"Genera filicum; or Illustrations of the ferns, and other allied genera; from the original coloured drawings of the late Francis Bauer; with additions and descriptive letterpress", by Sir
William Jackson Hooker . London, H. G. Bohn, 1842.References
*Stewart, Joyce and William T. Stearn. The orchid paintings of Franz Bauer. Timber Press,. Portland, Or. 1993
*Reinikka, Merle A. A History of the Orchid. Timber Press,. Portland, Or. 1995External links
* [http://mdz.bib-bvb.de/digbib/lexika/adb/images/adb002/@ebt-link?target=idmatch(entityref,adb0020143) ADB (German Language)]
* [http://www.kew.org/heritage/people/bauer.html Kew biography of Francis Bauer]
* [http://archives.ulrls.lon.ac.uk/dispatcher.aspx?action=search&database=ChoiceArchive&search=IN=MS1015 Description of drawings by Bauer at Senate House Library, University of London]
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