Background:

These beautiful prints are from The Botanist, a horticultural periodical published from 1836 to 1842 by Benjamin Maund.  The Botanist contained "accurately coloured figures of tender and hardy ornamental plants."  Maund, also known as the publisher of  The Botanic Garden, authored the accompanying text for each plant "with descriptions, scientific and popular".  He was assisted in his investigations by the Rev. J. S. Henslow.

Most of the illustrations were done by women artists.  Mrs. Withers completed one hundred of the 250 plates comprising The Botanist.  Another contributing artist was one of Maund's two daughters who signed her work as "Miss S. Maund".