Francis Sansom

Francis Sansom (1756-1810) was a famous copperplate engraver active in London, England in the second half of the 18th century. He produced numerous botanical illustrations for the botanist William Curtis, and his detailed and beautiful works made a major contribution to the development of botany.

Francis Sansom Biography

• Born on February 18, 1756 in London, England.
• He apprenticed as a weaver, but later became a copperplate engraver.
• As one of William Curtis's principal engravers, he provided many illustrations for botanical books such as Flora Londinensis and Botanical Magazine.
• He joined the Freemasons in 1782 .
• He mentions his profession in the preface to "A Poetical Epistle on the Abolition of the Slave Trade."
• He produced over 1,600 botanical illustrations during his lifetime.
• In 1807, he lost his sight.
• Died at Kensington on 15 November 1810 (aged 54).

Representative works

• Plate from the Flora Londinensis (1777-1798)
• Illustration from the Botanical Magazine (after 1787)

Sansom's style and achievements

Sansom's work is characterized by its accurate depiction of plant forms and details, bringing out their beauty to the fullest. He used his copperplate engraving techniques to meticulously depict the veins of plants, the texture of petals, and the shape of seeds. His work combines scientific accuracy with artistic beauty, and not only contributes to botanical research, but is also highly regarded by art lovers.

Sansom, through his collaboration with William Curtis, made a major contribution to the publication of botanical encyclopedias , whose works played a vital role in the popularization and development of botany and remain relevant today.