Chicago Botanic Garden

Education — Lenhardt Library

Library Exhibitions

Botanical Illustration

Papaver
The Botanical Magazine
by William Curtis, printed in 1787.
From the Library's rare book
and periodical collection

SCHEDULE

Friday, February 17 – Sunday, May 13, 2012
Renaissance Artists: Illustrations of Science and Art
Library Talk

Artists and scientists were close collaborators in the intellectual revolution known as the Renaissance. This exhibition examines the artists and publishers of featured rare volumes of this period such as those of Christopher Plantin, publisher of significant botanical works in the Renaissance.

Friday, May 18 – Sunday, August 12, 2012
Rare Seeds, Creative Harvest: Artist Books Inspired by the Rare Book Collection
Library Talk

Scarce botanical works are inspiration for not only scholars and students, but poets and artists as well. Using John Gerard's Herball and an obscure seventeenth century work on zoophytes as starting points, this exhibition features a unique artist's book as well as poetry combined with art.

Friday, August 17 – Sunday, November 11, 2012
Botanical Art: Expressions of Natural Beauty
Library Talk

Botanical volumes, known today for their magnificent color illustrations, were originally created as accurate representations of plants for scientific discovery and research.

Friday, November 16, 2012 – Sunday, February 10, 2013
The Garden Turns 40: Documenting Our Past, Planning for the Future
Library Talk