The Temple of Flora is a lavish book that combines botany and art, published between 1799 and 1807 by the English physician and botanist Robert John Thornton (1768-1837) . In particular, its third and final chapter, "A New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carl von Linnaeus," is highly regarded as an attempt to combine the beauty of plants with scientific knowledge.

Robert John Thornton Biography

• Born in London , England in 1768 .
• He studied medicine at Cambridge University and opened a practice as a physician.
• He had a deep interest in botany and supported Linnaeus' classification system.
• Between 1799 and 1807 he published The Temple of Flora.
• In 1811, he was declared bankrupt.
• He died in London on January 21, 1837 (aged 68).

Representative works

• The Temple of Flora (1799-1807)

Characteristics and influence of this book

The Temple of Flora is a lavish collection of botanical illustrations that combines botanical accuracy with artistic beauty . Thornton commissioned renowned artists of the time to create dramatic depictions of plants set against beautiful floral and landscape backgrounds .

In particular, "New Illustrations of the Sexual System of Carl von Linnaeus" contains illustrations that emphasize reproductive organs such as stamens and pistils in order to visually express Linnaeus's plant classification system . These illustrations not only deepen our understanding of the reproductive mechanisms of plants, but also highlight their beauty.

When "The Temple of Flora" was first published, its high price and lavish binding meant that only the wealthy could afford it, but due to its scientific and artistic merit, it is now highly regarded as a masterpiece of botanical illustration and as a work that symbolizes British culture from the late 18th century to the early 19th century .