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The Florilegium
What is a Florilegium?The word 'florilegium' is a modern Latin word derived from the Greek 'anthologia', meaning a selection of literary passages. It is thought to have been first used for a publication in 1590, and is now widely used to describe a collection of paintings of plants, drawn from life and botanically accurate. Florilegia flourished in the 17th century when they were created to portray rare and exotic plants from far afield. Now, the modern florilegium seeks to record collections of plants, often now endangered, from within a particular garden or place. The Florilegium SocietyThe Florilegium Society at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney was formed to create a collection of paintings of the significant plants growing in the estates of the Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust. The original paintings and the copyright will be gifted to the Trust by the artists of the Society. As the paintings accepted will be to the highest standards in the genre of botanical art, accurately observed and painted, they will make an important contribution to the collection of the Library of the National Herbarium of NSW. The paintings will be donated and exhibited progressively, and the initial objective is to have a significant collection of works for the bicentennial celebration of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, in 2016. An additional aim is to publish the Florilegium at this time. This publication would document both the richness of the living collections of the Botanic Gardens Trust and the work of fine Australian botanical artists. The Society has been granted incorporation in NSW under the Associations Incorporation Act, 1984 and income tax exempt status by the Australian Taxation Office as a charitable institution. The Society comprises artist members who commit to submitting a painting within a two year period, supporting members who are persons with a special interest in the Society, honorary members who may be appointed in recognition of their lifetime interest or achievement in the field of botanical art and ex-officio members who are nominated by the Executive Director as representatives of the Trust. Membership of the Society is by invitation. The Society is administered by a committee of members. Currently on the committee are: artist members Beverly Allen (President), Deirdre Bean (Secretary), Lesley Elkan, Illustrator, National Herbarium of NSW and Elaine Musgrave; supporting members, Professor Emeritus Carrick Chambers AM, Margot Child (Public Officer) and Sue Maple-Brown and ex-officio members, Judy Blood, Librarian, National Herbarium of NSW and Louisa Murray, Flora Botanist, National Herbarium of NSW. The committee meets at least three times per year. The Society has the patronage of Dr Shirley Sherwood and the support of its honorary members Dr Pamela Bell OAM, Anne-Marie Evans MA FLS, Jenny Phillips FLS, Celia Rosser OAM Hon MSc Hon LLD Monash, Margaret Stones AM MBE Hon DSc Louisiana State and Melbourne, Gil Teague and Dr James J White, Curator of Art, Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation. To date we have 32 artist members from NSW, Victoria and Tasmania and will continue to increase our membership. Enquiries are welcome. Expressions of interestThe Society is inviting interested artists to submit 2-3 botanical paintings in colour from their portfolio and a CV. Successful artists will be invited to join the Society. The next portfolio submission date is in February 2010. Portfolios can be left with the Librarian, Judy Blood at the Herbarium in the week before 2 February and collected from the 4 February. For further information contact Beverly Allen, details below. Affiliations have been made with The Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium Society and The Florilegium Society at Sheffield Botanic Gardens. Further informationPlease contact Beverly Allen, 02 9418 7258 or email beverlyallen@optusnet.com.au OR Judy Blood, Librarian, National Herbarium of NSW, 02 9231 8152 or email judy.blood@rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au Links |
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