John Abbot and William Swainson: Art, Science, and Commerce in Nineteenth-Century Natural History Illustration

John Abbot, a British-born naturalist, and artist, created over 4,000 natural history illustrations that greatly impacted North American entomology. He worked in Georgia for sixty-five years, sending specimens and illustrations to collectors and scientists worldwide. Between 1816 and 1818, Abbot completed 104 drawings of insects on their native plants for English naturalist William Swainson. The Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington, New Zealand, has discovered a complete set of original, full-color illustrations, showcasing the complex array of personal and professional concerns that informed the field of natural history in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 30 April 2019
Publisher: The University of Alabama Press

A remarkable collection of never-before-published illustrations of insects and plants, meticulously painted by the pioneering naturalist John Abbot during his lifetime (1751–ca. 1840), has been unearthed. Born in England, Abbot's artistic prowess and scientific expertise greatly influenced the field of entomology in North America. Over a span of sixty-five years, he dedicated himself to advancing knowledge of the flora and fauna of the American South. Through meticulous documentation and exquisite illustrations of insects, birds, butterflies, and moths, Abbot sent meticulously mounted specimens and detailed illustrations on commission to collectors and scientists across the globe.

One of his most significant contributions was his collaboration with English naturalist and patron William Swainson (1789–1855). Between 1816 and 1818, Abbot completed 104 drawings of insects on their native plants for Swainson. Both Abbot and Swainson were accomplished artists, naturalists, and collectors during a period when natural history and the sciences flourished. Despite their nearly forty-year age difference, they were members of the same international communities and correspondence networks that supported the study of nature.

To explore the relationship between these two remarkable men, John Abbot and William Swainson: Art, Science, and Commerce in Nineteenth-Century Natural History Illustration has been published. This volume showcases the complete set of original, full-color illustrations discovered in 1977 in the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington, New Zealand. Originally intended as a companion to an earlier survey of insects from Georgia, the newly rediscovered Turnbull manuscript presents a diverse range of beetles, grasshoppers, butterflies, moths, and a wasp. Each illustration is accompanied by the flowering plants upon which the insects are depicted, providing a vivid depiction of the natural world during the nineteenth century.

Abbot's dedication to natural history illustration and his contributions to the field of entomology have left an indelible mark on the history of science. His meticulous attention to detail and his ability to capture the beauty of the natural world in his paintings have inspired generations of artists and scientists. The discovery of this remarkable collection of illustrations further enhances our understanding of the artistic and scientific achievements of John Abbot and his profound influence on the study of nature.

Weight: 1580g
Dimension: 229 x 289 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780817320133