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Details
Francisco Manuel Blanco (1778-1845)
Bellflower (Campanula var.)
signed (lower left) 'Fray M.Blanco', and inscribed (upper margin) 'Flora filipina No 55' and (lower right) '(Reseñar)'
pencil and watercolour, mounted within a pen and wash border
5 7/8 x 4¾in. (150 x 121mm).
[With:]
Three-petalled deep blue flower with yellow-tipped stamen
signed (lower left) 'Fray M.Blanco', and inscribed (upper margin) 'Flora filipina No 52' and (lower right 'Reseñar)'
pencil and watercolour, mounted within a pen and wash border
7 3/8 x 5 5/8in. (189 x 143mm).
An exceptionally fine pair of flower drawings by Francisco Manuel Blanco, clergyman, explorer and botanist, best known in botanical circles for his pioneering work 'Flora de Filipinas, Segun el sistema sexual de Linneo' which was first published in Manila in 1837. A second revised edition was published in 1845 also un-illustrated, and after Blanco's death an illustrated edition with plates after drawings by Blanco, Lorenzo Guerrero, Regino Garcia y Basa and others appeared (Manilla, 1877-1883). These original watercolours are important as examples of the field work of Blanco: 'Reseñer' ('sketch' or 'quick description' in Spanish) on each drawing implies that they were intended by Blanco as aide-memoires. Blanco spent 40 years in the Philippines, serving as a priest in various parts of the country, colleting plants as he travelled around. (2)
Bellflower (Campanula var.)
signed (lower left) 'Fray M.Blanco', and inscribed (upper margin) 'Flora filipina No 55' and (lower right) '(Reseñar)'
pencil and watercolour, mounted within a pen and wash border
5 7/8 x 4¾in. (150 x 121mm).
[With:]
Three-petalled deep blue flower with yellow-tipped stamen
signed (lower left) 'Fray M.Blanco', and inscribed (upper margin) 'Flora filipina No 52' and (lower right 'Reseñar)'
pencil and watercolour, mounted within a pen and wash border
7 3/8 x 5 5/8in. (189 x 143mm).
An exceptionally fine pair of flower drawings by Francisco Manuel Blanco, clergyman, explorer and botanist, best known in botanical circles for his pioneering work 'Flora de Filipinas, Segun el sistema sexual de Linneo' which was first published in Manila in 1837. A second revised edition was published in 1845 also un-illustrated, and after Blanco's death an illustrated edition with plates after drawings by Blanco, Lorenzo Guerrero, Regino Garcia y Basa and others appeared (Manilla, 1877-1883). These original watercolours are important as examples of the field work of Blanco: 'Reseñer' ('sketch' or 'quick description' in Spanish) on each drawing implies that they were intended by Blanco as aide-memoires. Blanco spent 40 years in the Philippines, serving as a priest in various parts of the country, colleting plants as he travelled around. (2)
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