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EDWARD DONOVAN WATERCOLORS AT HUNT INSTITUTE MARCH 27

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PITTSBURGH, PENN. — The Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation at Carnegie Mellon University will exhibit selections from its large collection of botanical watercolors by the early Nineteenth Century British naturalist Edward Donovan, on view March 27–June 29.

Created 1823–1830, they depict exotic plants introduced to the British Isles. A display of select Donovan’s books lent by the Carnegie Museum of Natural History Library will be exhibited with these watercolors.

Donovan (1768–1837), as were many cultured gentlemen of his day, was a collector of natural history specimens — from personal excursions in the British Isles as well as purchases from notable natural history auctions that included items from voyages of exploration. Within the connections he made as a Fellow of the Linnean Society and the Wernerian Natural History Society, he also was able to access the best collections.

Donovan referenced all of these sources for his books about the insects, shells, fishes and quadrupeds of England and the insects of China, India and New Holland between 1789 and 1827. He not only wrote and illustrated these books, but also prepared the copper plates.

It was not uncommon for private collectors to open small public museums of exotica, and in 1807 Donovan founded the London Museum and Institute of Natural History, which included several hundred cases of birds, botanical specimens and other subjects.

Exotic plants were featured in Donovan’s early and short-lived series Botanical Review, or the Beauties of Flora (London, 1789–90) and occasionally accompanied the natural history subjects in his later publications. The botanical watercolors in the institute’s collection were created much later (1823–1830) and leave a trail of mysteries. It is known that the 709 watercolors that were tipped into five albums with spines stamped “Edward Donavan/Flower Paintings” were part of Rachel Hunt’s original collection, but there is no date or source of acquisition.

Also included in this collection of watercolors is a small selection by anonymous artists (many with only a monogram, except for E. Duncombe).

In conjunction with “Edward Donovan: Naturalist Artist, Author and Collector,” the Hunt Institute will hold its annual open house June 22–23. For information, huntbot.andrew.cmu.edu or 412-268-2434