Crystal Bridges Unveils Rare Book from Holdings
February 29, 2008 – 10:45 am
Victoria Regia Demonstrates America’s Deep Roots in Botanical Illustration
BENTONVILLE, Ark., Feb. 29, 2008 – A historic publication that launched the age of chromolithography in the United States was unveiled today by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, providing yet another indicator of the museum’s overall holdings. The rare book Victoria Regia, or the Great Water Lily of America goes on display starting tomorrow as part of a new exhibition opening at Crystal Bridges at the Massey, 125 W. Central, just off the square in downtown Bentonville.
The large-format book will be housed in a protective case and will be available for viewing through May 4 while the International Exhibition of Botanical Art and Illustration is on display, which features works from contemporary botanical artists from around the world.
Considered a monument of American color printing, Victoria Regia was authored by John Fisk Allen and features six chromolithographic plates by William Sharp, a British-born artist and the first U. S. chromolithographer. Every week, a new page featuring one of the six chromolithographic plates in the book will be displayed.
“This distinctive book shows the timeless quality of botanical illustrations and underscores the deep roots our country has in this art form,” said Chris Crosman, chief curator, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. “A truly great American botanical work, Victoria Regia was a match for anything being produced in Europe at the time and remains one of the most beautiful flower books ever produced.”
In addition to its artistic significance, Crosman added the Victoria Regia was a triumph to this new color printing process.
The book’s subject matter is also significant, describing in great detail a rare plant known as the great water lily of America. The Victoria regia, referred to as a “vegetable wonder” by Sir R.H. Schomburg in 1837, had first been discovered by the Europeans in Bolivia in 1801. Growing this flowering lily of the America’s in Europe had challenged British horticulturist Joseph Paxton for several years. He launched numerous attempts to cultivate the plant in outside of London, battling against climates not native to the plant. A large conservatory was constructed with coal-fired heaters to maintain a suitable water environment for the flower. His eventual success in flowering the lily in 1849 was celebrated and earned him knighthood.
By 1853, Allen, a well respected horticulturist and author, had cultivated the lily in Salem, Mass., from a seed provided by Caleb Cope, president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Cope was the first American to successfully grow the flower in the United States. His specimen bloomed in Pennsylvania on the evening of July 21, 1851. Allen’s specimen grown in Salem was used as the model on which William Sharp based his drawings for the chromolithographs of the Victoria regia.
The book is part of Crystal Bridges’ library, which will be a non-circulating art reference library to serve staff, in-house scholars, researchers and students. The library will be housed on the grounds of the museum complex and will also support research for the interpretation and presentation of the museum’s permanent collection.
The Victoria Regia and the International Exhibition of Botanical Art and Illustration are available for viewing at Crystal Bridges at the Massey during regular hours of operation:
- Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information about Crystal Bridges at the Massey, visit www.massey.crystalbridges.org or call 479.418.5700
For more information about Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, visit www.crystalbridges.org.
