The Temple of Flora

The plates in Robert John Thornton’s (c. 1768–1837) The Temple of Flora remain outstanding and unique. Neither before nor after Thornton has anyone created such compellingly images of flowers, set portrait-like in their typical landscapes, though his attempt to publish The Temple of Flora bankrupted him. This beautiful print of the The Night–Blowing Cereus depicts the cereus which blooms at midnight once a year! Did you know there was one in Frigiliana?