Picturing Plants. An Analytical History of Botanical Illustration. 2nd ed. 2009. col. illus. 153 p. gr8vo. Hardcover.

Drawing on the rarely seen archives of the Victoria and Albert Museum, the book begins with some pressing questions: throughout history, who has drawn plants, and why? And what do these images say about our relationship with the natural world? To answer the author shares the story behind one hundred gorgeous works, from exquisitely detailed scientific illustrations to the boldly coloured seed packets of today. Starting with a printed book from the 15th century, Saunders explores a remarkable selection of botanic art, including masterworks by Georg Dionysus Ehret and Pierre- Joseph Redouté as well as superb illustrations by anonymous artists in China, India, and Japan. Along the way, she makes insightful connections between botanical art, science, and culture. The book captures both the complex cultural history and the distinctive loveliness of botanical illustration.