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Book review: The Concise British Flora in Colour

By W. Keble Martin
Picture

The Concise British Flora in Colour

Synopsis

The product of a project lasting over 60 years to study, research, and illustrate the natural wild flowers of the UK. 

W. Keble Martin started before the first world war and this book was not published until 1965. 
  • It records short descriptions of the plants with proper nomenclature and popular name. 
  • On the opposite page are the composite illustrations of the variations of flowers within a family. 
  • All the plants and flowers were drawn from life. 
The book was not only a best seller when published in 1965 - Keble Martin became the best selling author of 1965 - at the age of 89. It's a feat not yet repeated for a book about wild flowers.
Summary review

The primary reason for buying this book for me was nostalgia - for my childhood, expeditions to find wildflowers for a primary school project and (I now realise) for those wildflowers which are no longer common.  There are probably quite a few people over the age of 50 who feel the same. 

Over and above that this was the book which introduced me to botanical illustration. 

I loved the fact that the wild flowers were illustrated rather than photographed and what seemed to me to be the very innovative way that the flowers were arranged on the page.  I was hooked by this book and have remained interested in it and its subject matter ever since. 

RECOMMENDED: It's a brilliant book for those interested in wild flowers in the UK for people of all ages.

Highlights
  • a major work of reference for a particular point in the time re British Wild Flowers
  • combines botanical accuracy with very atractive botanical illustration
  • 1486 species illustrated, 1400 grouped in families on full colour plates
  • short descriptions of each plant with latin and popular name and description of plant and habitat
  • grouping flowers in families makes it easier to distinguish between different versions
  • still a useful reference work for all botanical artists working with wild flowers 
Think again?
  • Not the best botanical painting but still very good, especially considering he's a botanist by training
  • there's a great many editions out there and a great range of prices
  • some later editions may be of less good quality (try for an Ebury Press/Michael Joseph original)
Suitable for:
  • people who love British Wild Flowers
  • botanical artists
  • botanical art tutors
  • botanists (as a record of the time)
Author
​W Keble Martin (1877-1969) studied Botany at the University of Oxford. However he trained as a theologian and made his career in the Church of England. Progress with his sketching and illustration of plants in colour was to some extent dictated by his parish duties and where those parishes were located.  The book developed from a recreational interest and drawings were only completed slowly.

Note: I'm also developing a page for the art history section about W. Keble Martin
Picture
Technical data: 
Author  W. Keble Martin
Publisher: Ebury Press & Michael Joseph; 
Publication Date: 1st edition 1965
Hardcover (with dust jacket) -  231 pages;
BUY THIS BOOK
The Concise British Flora in Colour from Amazon UK
The Concise British Flora in Colour from Amazon.com

More about The Concise British Flora in Colour
​

I used to be able to refer to this book at primary school when it was first published.  I could happily sit for ages gazing at all the different plates of drawings of wild flowers.  At the time, the focus was primarily on learning about and identifying wild flowers for a project.  I now realise that this early exposure to botanical painting of specimens helped to generate a life long interest in botanical art.

I rather suspect that there are other middle aged people like myself (and older) who also remember the impact this book had when it was first published in 1965. 

​I've never owned a copy and am really pleased I've now got one (ordered from 
Roger Lucas Books).  What struck me immediately when looking at it is how so many wild flowers are now much less common compared to the situation nearly 50 years ago.
The dedicated and painstaking skill which has gone into each plate in order to ensure complete accuracy in colour and detail will, I am sure, make the book invaluable to both amateur and professional botanists.  I hope it will stimulate new interests and nring delight to many thousands of readers
HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Ednburgh in the Foreword
One cannot help but be completely amazed at the scope and length of this project to document the complete wild flora of the British Isles   It would be great to know where those volumes of botanical illustrations are now.
The Concise British Flora was published in May 1965 when the author was 88. The book was the result of sixty years’ meticulous fieldwork and exquisite painting skills, and became an immediate best-seller. He completed over 1,400 paintings in colour and many black and white drawings before the book was finally published.
Wikipedia - W. Keble Martin
NOTE: This book review was first published on Making A Mark Reviews on 4th July 2010 as Book review: The Concise British Flora in Colour (An archive copy has been created and stored)

Sketches for the Flora
​

Every figure on these plates was drawn direct from nature.  The drawings were first made in the form of pen outlines of small separate sheets.  On each sheet the name of the specimen was recorded, with the date, the place from which the specimen came and the name of the sender, if any or the referee who named it.  These sheets form four octavo loose-leaf volumes.  
W. Keble Martin
I subsequently also bought "Sketches for the "Concise British Flora in Colour" for the princely sum of £1.62!  (That's my copy on the right).

It's all the sketches before they've been coloured and you can see how he developed them. Interesting for those of us who are sketching nerds!

BUY from Amazon
Sketches for the "Concise British Flora in Colour" from Amazon UK
Sketches for the flora, from Amazon.com
Picture

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  • Home
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  • HISTORY
    • What is Botanical Art?
    • What is Botanical Illustration?
    • Botanical Art History Books >
      • The Art of Botanical Illustration (Blunt)
      • Book Review: Treasures of Botanical Art
    • Herbals
    • Florilegia and Flora
    • Patrons of Botanical Art >
      • About Leonhart Fuchs
      • About Basilius Besler
    • Past Masters - Botanical Art and Illustration >
      • About Maria Sibylla Merian
      • About Elizabeth Blackwell
      • About Georg Dionysius Ehret
      • About Franz Bauer
      • About Sydney Parkinson
      • About Pierre-Joseph Redouté
      • About Marianne North
    • Famous Asian Botanical Artists (600-1900)
    • 20th & 21st Century Botanical Artists >
      • About Arthur Harry Church
      • About Margaret Mee
      • About Mary Grierson
      • About Raymond Booth
      • About Rory McEwen
      • About Pandora Sellars
    • Botanical Photographers
    • Botanical and Herbal Art Online
  • ARTISTS
    • Botanical Artists in the UK
    • Botanical Artists in North America
    • Botanical Artists in Europe
    • Botanical Artists in Australia and New Zealand
    • Botanical Artists in Asia
    • Botanical Artists in Africa
    • Botanical Artists in Latin America
    • Botanical Printmakers, Photographers, Sculptors et al
    • The Jill Smythies Award
    • Botanical Artists on Facebook
    • Botanical Art Blogs
  • Exhibitions
    • Calls for Entries - OPEN exhibitions
    • Online Exhibitions >
      • ARCHIVE: Online Botanical Art Exhibitions
    • RHS Botanical Art & Photography Shows >
      • ARCHIVE RHS Botanical Art Shows 2007-2023
      • Exhibit Titles at RHS Botanical Art Shows
      • RHS Portfolio Photography (Botanical / Horticultural)
    • The Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art >
      • ARCHIVE: Shirley Sherwood Gallery Exhibitions
    • Hunt International Exhibition of Botanical Art & Illustration
    • UK >
      • Permanent Collections (UK)
      • Botanical Art Exhibitions at Major UK Galleries & Museums >
        • ARCHIVE: Major Gallery Exhibitions
      • Botanical Art Exhibitions in England and Wales >
        • ARCHIVE: Past Botanical Art Exhibitions in the UK
        • ARCHIVE: Reviews of Annual Exhibitions by the Society of Botanical Artists
      • Botanical Art Exhibitions in Scotland >
        • ARCHIVE: Scotland - Botanical Art Exhibitions
    • North America >
      • Permanent Collections (USA)
      • ARCHIVE Past ASBA Exhibitions in the USA
      • ARCHIVE: Past Botanical Art Exhibitions in the USA
      • ARCHIVE: Past Botanical Art Exhibitions in Canada
    • Europe >
      • Permanent Collections (Europe)
      • ARCHIVE: Past Botanical Art Exhibitions in Europe
      • ARCHIVE: Past Botanical Exhibitions in Germany
      • ARCHIVE: ​Past Botanical Art Exhibitions in Ireland
      • ARCHIVE: Past Botanical Exhibitions in Russia
    • Australasia >
      • Margaret Flockton Award
      • ARCHIVE: Past Botanical Art Exhibitions in Australasia
    • Asia >
      • ARCHIVE: Past Botanical Art Exhibitions in Asia
    • Africa
    • ARCHIVE: World Wide Exhibition of Botanical Art 2018
  • Education
    • NEW BOOKS about Botanical Art and Illustration >
      • NEW in 2020: Books about Botanical Art & Illustration
      • NEW IN 2019: Books about Botanical Art & Illustration
      • NEW in 2018: Books about Botanical Art & Illustration
    • Best Botanical Art Instruction Books >
      • Best Instruction Books by Botanical Art Societies >
        • The Art of Botanical Painting - review
        • The Botanical Palette - review
        • Botanical Sketchbook - review
      • Best Instruction Books about Botanical Illustration >
        • Botanical Illustration - Books by Bobbi Angell
        • Botanical Illustration (Oxley) - review
      • Best Instruction Books by top Artists / Teachers >
        • Books By Billy Showell
        • Books - the Eden Project
      • Best Botanical Drawing Instruction Books (Pencils) >
        • Botanical Painting with Coloured Pencils - review
      • e-Booklets / digital guides
    • Tips and Techniques >
      • Tips from RHS Gold Medal Winners
      • Preparation and set-up
      • Botanical Sketching and Sketchbooks
      • Design and composition
      • Colour
      • Pen and Ink
      • How to draw and paint trees and leaves
    • Botanical Art Video Tips >
      • Video Tips: Watercolour Painting
      • Video Tips Coloured Pencils
      • Video Tips: Pencil drawing
      • Video Tips: Painting Flowers
      • Video Tips: Painting Leaves & Trees
    • Online Botanical Art Instruction >
      • CHECKLIST: FAQS about Online Learning
      • ONLINE TIMELINE
    • International Directory: Botanical Art Teachers
    • International Directory of Botanical Art Courses >
      • UK: Botanical Art Courses
      • North America: Botanical Art Courses
      • Europe: Botanical Art Courses & Holidays
      • Australasia: Botanical Art Courses
    • Artist Residencies, Scholarships and Bursaries
    • Diplomas and Certificates >
      • SBA Diploma Assignments
    • Distance Learning Courses
    • Talks, Lectures & Tours
    • Botanical Education on Facebook
  • Materials
    • Paper
    • Vellum
  • Groups
    • National & Regional Botanical Art Societies
    • Florilegium Societies & Other Groups
    • Finnis Scott Foundation: Botanical Art Prize
    • Botanical Art Groups on Facebook
  • Botany
    • Why botany matters to artists
    • Botany Books for artists >
      • Botany for the Artist (Simblet)
      • The Art of Plant Evolution
      • The Concise British Flora in Colour (1965)
    • Scientific botanical illustration
    • Plant Forms and Anatomy
    • Plant Evolution and Taxonomy
    • Plant Names and Botanical Latin
    • Botanical Dictionaries
    • How to Identify Plants
    • Recording a Plant / Sketchbooks >
      • Plant Pressing for your own Herbarium
    • Botanic Gardens & Herbaria >
      • Global and National Networks
      • Herbaria, Seed Banks and Fungaria
      • Old Botanic & Physic Gardens in London
      • Botanic Gardens in the UK
      • Botanic Gardens in Ireland
      • Botanic Gardens in Europe
      • Botanic Gardens in the USA
      • Botanic Gardens in Canada
      • Botanic Gardens in Asia
      • Botanic Gardens in Australia
    • Blogs about Plants and Flowers
  • Contact
    • About Katherine Tyrrell
    • About Reviews
    • Privacy Policy