Agate offers you flowers

Within the collections of Villa Thuret, some books are beautifully flowered. Here's what you need to make a beautiful bouquet this june.

The book "Iconographie du genre œillet : ou choix des œillets les plus beaux et les plus rares peints à l'aquarelle d'après nature et gravés à l'eau forte. 200 variétés"("Iconography of the carnation genus: or choice of the most beautiful and rarest carnations painted in watercolor after nature and engraved in eau-forte, 200 varieties") published in 1845 contains magnificent bunches of carnations, white, rosé, purple or bicoloured.

Carnation Mongobert, Angéline, Aline et Henriette Léguillon. Iconographie du genre œillet. 1845 plate 33

Carnations Lord Grey, Virgine, Flora et Cloé. Iconographie du genre œillet. 1845, plate 50

More varied, The "Iconographie de la flore française" ("Iconography of the French Flora") in 5 tomes, published by H. Baillon between 1885 and 1895, offers very beautiful illustrations of wild flowers.

Papaver Rhoeas, poppy. Iconographie de la flore française, H. Baillon.

Nuphar luteum. Yellow wate- lily. Iconographie de la flore française, H. Baillon

Fœniculum capillaceum, fennel. Iconographie de la flore française, H. Baillon

Spiræa ulmaria, meadowsweet. iconographie de la flore française, H. Baillon.

And finally, "la Flore des serres et jardins d'Europe", ("The flora of the greenhouses and gardens of Europe"), Belgian horticultural magazine with 2000 color lithographs offers magnificent illustrations of flowers from all over the world.

 

Bourbon Rose. Flore des serres et jardins d'Europe, 1865

Scilla sibirica, siberian squill, Flore des serres et jardins d'Europe, 1865

“Double” Gloxinias, Flore des serres et des jardins d'Europe, 1873

Text written by Pascale Hénaut (INRAE-DipSO)

How to cite : Focus Agate : Agate offers you flowers, Pascale Hénaut (INRAE - DipSO), june 2025 (https://agate.inrae.fr/agate/en/content/highlights)

 

 

Illustrations

The banner was made from two drawings of carnations and a lithography of "Nolana Paradoxa Violacea".

Bandeau avec oeillets et nolana paradoxa violacea

The thumbnail was made from a lithography of "Gloxinias à double corolle".

Gloxinias à double corolle

On the same subject

  • Flora of the greenhouses and gardens of Europe: art at the service of horticulture
    Gilia Dianthoides, flore des serres et des jardins d’Europe, 1856
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    Flora of the greenhouses and gardens of Europe: art at the service of horticulture

    To promote the development of his horticultural business, Louis Van Houtte published some very classic catalogues. But he is also known for creating an extraordinary magazine: “La Flore des serres et des jardins d'Europe” (the flora of the greenhouses and gardens of Europe). This magazine, the first volume of which was published in French and English in 1845, was an aesthetic, botanical and human adventure.

  • Louis Van Houtte, the prince of 19th-century horticulturists
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    Louis Van Houtte, the prince of 19th-century horticulturists

    A plant enthusiast, Louis Van Houtte set up a major horticultural business in Gentbrugge-lez-Gand, Belgium, in the middle of the 19th century, to which he added a school of European renown. His garden, his varietal creations and his trade in plants and seeds were a must for enthusiasts.