Florilegium Imperiale: Botanical Illustrations for Francis I of Austria by H. Walter Lack (ISBN 3791334921)
My lecturer used to comment that the Holy Roman Empire was neither Holy nor Roman. Nevertheless being an Emperor does have its advantages. 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 Vienna’s most beloved treasures. In 1791, Francis I commissioned Matthias Schumtzer to paint portraits of every flower in the garden—a 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 120 of the most outstanding of Schmutzer’s 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 ruler’s time, and photographs of how they appear today. The 336 page tome measures in 29 X 42 cm and comes inclusive of slipcase. If you have US$165 to spare and delights in botanical art, this is the book to get.