Flora attired by the elements
Date
1791
Creator
Anker Smith (1759 - 1819, British) , Engraver
After
Henry Fuseli (1741 - 1825, Swiss) , Painter
Object type
Library reference
R83119
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (print): 271mm
width (print): 205mm
width (print): 205mm
Subject
Description
Allegorical scene, featuring the goddess Flora, seated, and surrounded by characters representing the classical elements of earth, air, fire, and water. Flora’s hair is being garlanded with flowers by the figure of air, and she gazes into a circular mirror being held for her by the element of fire. The representation of earth is emerging from the ground at her feet, bearing buried rings. A handmaiden, water, offers a basket of roses. To the right as viewed is a figure probably intended as Favonius, the Roman wind god.
Frontispiece from the book The botanic garden: a poem in two parts, by Erasmus Darwin (London, 1791). Inscribed above: ‘Frontispiece, Vol.1.’ Inscribed below: ‘FLORA attired by the ELEMENTS. Published June 1st 1791, by J.Johnson, in St. Paul’s Church Yard London. Design’d by H.Fuseli, Engraved by Anker Smith.’
Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802) British physician and natural philosopher, grandfather of Charles Darwin, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1761.
Frontispiece from the book The botanic garden: a poem in two parts, by Erasmus Darwin (London, 1791). Inscribed above: ‘Frontispiece, Vol.1.’ Inscribed below: ‘FLORA attired by the ELEMENTS. Published June 1st 1791, by J.Johnson, in St. Paul’s Church Yard London. Design’d by H.Fuseli, Engraved by Anker Smith.’
Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802) British physician and natural philosopher, grandfather of Charles Darwin, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1761.
Associated place