The Art of Botanical Illustration 2008 Presented by the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
Amongst the paintings on display in this exhibition are works that have been considered and selected for inclusion in the Friends’
Illustrated
Garden
Collection. This project was established in 2001 by the artist group of the Friends to create an illustrated record, or florilegium, of plants growing in the RBG. This 21st century florilegium is held digitally and photographically; the original works are not retained. This is to encourage submissions from a wide pool of artists by dispensing with the more usual practice of expecting the original artwork to be donated or purchased for the collection. Instead the artists are asked to assign reproduction rights to the Friends for the purpose of raising funds for the RBG through the sale of cards, prints, calendars and other publications. The Friends are now regularly producing calendars featuring these works. The original works are included in the exhibition and are available for sale to astute collectors. Works selected for the Illustrated Garden at this exhibition are: