Augusta Innes Withers
Encyclopedia
Augusta Innes Withers (née
Baker) (1793-1877), was an English natural history
illustrator, known for her illustrating of John Lindley
's Pomological Magazine and her collaboration with Sarah Drake
on the monumental Orchidaceae of Mexico and Guatemala by James Bateman
. She was appointed "Flower Painter in Ordinary" to Queen Adelaide
and later to Queen Victoria. She also produced illustrations for Benjamin Maund
's "Botanist", the ”Transactions of the Horticultural” Society, the ”Illustrated Bouquet" (1857-1863) and Curtis's Botanical Magazine
.
Augusta was the daughter of a Gloucestershire
vicar, chaplain to the Prince Regent
. She lived in London all her life and was married to Theodore Withers, an accountant, and 20 years her senior. Besides giving painting classes, she was active as a painter from before 1827 to 1865, exhibiting from 1829-46 at the Royal Academy
, the Society of British Artists and the New Watercolour Society
.
John Claudius Loudon
commented in the 1831 ”Gardener's Magazine" that her talents were of the highest order, and that "to be able to draw flowers botanically, and fruit horticulturally, that is, with the characteristics by which varieties and subvarieties are distinguished, is one of the most useful accomplishments of your ladies of leisure, living in the country."
In 1815, in an attempt to clarify the nomenclature of cultivated fruit varieties and reduce the number of synonyms in common use, William Jackson Hooker
initiated a project of fruit drawings in watercolour stretching over 10 volumes. Suffering a stroke in 1820, Hooker was unable to finish the work. Four other artists, including Augusta Innes Withers and Barbara Cotton were commissioned to complete the work, ironic since Withers had been refused a position as botanical artist by Hooker's son, Joseph Dalton Hooker
.
Withers painted the 12 colour plates for Robert Thompson's The Gardener's Assistant (Blackie & Son, 1859), "A guide to the Formation and Management of the Kitchen, Fruit, and Flower Garden, and the cultivation of conservatory, green-house, and stove plants. With a copious calendar of gardening operations."
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Baker) (1793-1877), was an English natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
illustrator, known for her illustrating of John Lindley
John Lindley
John Lindley FRS was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.-Early years:Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley was a nurseryman and pomologist and ran a commercial nursery garden...
's Pomological Magazine and her collaboration with Sarah Drake
Sarah Drake
Sarah Ann Drake was an English botanical illustrator.Born in 1803, she came from the same area of Norfolk as John Lindley, and in 1830 moved into the Lindley home in London...
on the monumental Orchidaceae of Mexico and Guatemala by James Bateman
James Bateman
James Bateman was a landowner and accomplished horticulturist. He developed Biddulph Grange after moving there around 1840, from nearby Knypersley Hall...
. She was appointed "Flower Painter in Ordinary" to Queen Adelaide
Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen
Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and of Hanover as spouse of William IV of the United Kingdom. Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, is named after her.-Early life:Adelaide was born on 13 August 1792 at Meiningen, Thuringia, Germany...
and later to Queen Victoria. She also produced illustrations for Benjamin Maund
Benjamin Maund
Benjamin Maund was a British pharmacist, botanist, printer, bookseller, fellow of the Linnean Society and publisher of the Botanic Garden and The Botanist...
's "Botanist", the ”Transactions of the Horticultural” Society, the ”Illustrated Bouquet" (1857-1863) and Curtis's Botanical Magazine
Curtis's Botanical Magazine
The Botanical Magazine; or Flower-Garden Displayed, is an illustrated publication which began in 1787. The longest running botanical magazine, it is widely referred to by the subsequent name Curtis's Botanical Magazine....
.
Augusta was the daughter of a Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
vicar, chaplain to the Prince Regent
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
. She lived in London all her life and was married to Theodore Withers, an accountant, and 20 years her senior. Besides giving painting classes, she was active as a painter from before 1827 to 1865, exhibiting from 1829-46 at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
, the Society of British Artists and the New Watercolour Society
Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours
The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours , initially called the New Society of Painters in Water Colours, , is one of the societies in the Federation of British Artists, based in the Mall Galleries in London.-History:In 1831 the society was founded as the New Society of Painters in Water...
.
John Claudius Loudon
John Claudius Loudon
John Claudius Loudon was a Scottish botanist, garden and cemetery designer, author and garden magazine editor.-Background:...
commented in the 1831 ”Gardener's Magazine" that her talents were of the highest order, and that "to be able to draw flowers botanically, and fruit horticulturally, that is, with the characteristics by which varieties and subvarieties are distinguished, is one of the most useful accomplishments of your ladies of leisure, living in the country."
In 1815, in an attempt to clarify the nomenclature of cultivated fruit varieties and reduce the number of synonyms in common use, William Jackson Hooker
William Jackson Hooker
Sir William Jackson Hooker, FRS was an English systematic botanist and organiser. He held the post of Regius Professor of Botany at Glasgow University, and was the first Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He enjoyed the friendship and support of Sir Joseph Banks for his exploring,...
initiated a project of fruit drawings in watercolour stretching over 10 volumes. Suffering a stroke in 1820, Hooker was unable to finish the work. Four other artists, including Augusta Innes Withers and Barbara Cotton were commissioned to complete the work, ironic since Withers had been refused a position as botanical artist by Hooker's son, Joseph Dalton Hooker
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker OM, GCSI, CB, MD, FRS was one of the greatest British botanists and explorers of the 19th century. Hooker was a founder of geographical botany, and Charles Darwin's closest friend...
.
Withers painted the 12 colour plates for Robert Thompson's The Gardener's Assistant (Blackie & Son, 1859), "A guide to the Formation and Management of the Kitchen, Fruit, and Flower Garden, and the cultivation of conservatory, green-house, and stove plants. With a copious calendar of gardening operations."