John Edwards (painter) facts for kids
John Edwards (born 1742 – died 31 August 1815) was an English artist and scientist. He was a talented botanist, meaning he studied plants. He was also a painter, a designer, and an illustrator. John Edwards is best known for his famous book series called The British Herbal.
Contents
Who Was John Edwards?
John Edwards was a creative person who loved both art and nature. He lived in London for many years, until about 1778. After that, he moved to Surrey, a county in England.
Edwards' Artistic Career
John Edwards was a successful artist. He showed his paintings at important art shows, like those held by the Royal Academy. He was also a member of the Society of Artists. This shows that other artists respected his work.
Designing for Textiles
Besides painting, Edwards also created designs for fabrics. He was especially good at making patterns for calico. Calico is a type of cotton cloth. Imagine his beautiful flower designs on curtains or clothes!
The British Herbal: A Plant Masterpiece
One of John Edwards' most important works was his book series, The British Herbal. This amazing collection was published in parts every month between 1769 and 1770.
What Was in The British Herbal?
The full title of the book was The British Herbal Containing One Hundred Plates of The most beautiful and scarce Flowers and Useful Medicinal Plants. It featured one hundred detailed pictures of plants. These included both exotic flowers from far-off lands and plants found in Britain.
How Edwards Created His Books
Edwards gathered information about plants from many different sources. He then created his own detailed pictures. He would engrave these pictures onto plates, which means carving the image into a metal surface. Then, he would carefully hand-colour each print. This made every picture a unique work of art.
A Collection of Flowers: More Beautiful Art
After The British Herbal, John Edwards started another big project. It was called A Collection of Flowers Drawn after Nature & Disposed in an Ornamental & Picturesque Manner.
Edwards' Control Over His Work
Edwards began this project around 1783. He worked on it throughout the 1780s and 1790s, creating 79 plates. For this collection, Edwards did everything himself. He designed the pictures, etched them onto plates, and even coloured them by hand. This meant he had complete control over how his beautiful flower art looked.
Later Life
John Edwards passed away in Hampstead on August 31, 1815. His detailed and beautiful plant illustrations continue to be admired today. He left behind a wonderful legacy of art and science.
