Robert John Thornton

What survives when a hand reaches too far—toward Eden’s vanished flora, toward knowledge trembling at the edge of ruin? Robert John Thornton, heir to Trinity’s divine halls and London’s medical chambers, turned from salvation to seduction, trading scripture for stamen, sermon for stem.

Picture sumptuous folio pages where exotic flora steal the limelight against dramatic backdrops. Each plate a stage for nature's grand performance. Commissioned from the cream of British artists like Philip Reinagle, these aren't mere illustrations—they're botanical portraits that capture the soul of each species.

Despite financial thorns that ultimately pricked Thornton's grand vision, reducing his planned 70 plates to 33, the "Temple of Flora" stands as a testament to an era when royal patrons and intrepid explorers fueled a botanical renaissance. This vivid intersection of science and art, nurtured in the hothouse of Georgian England's horticultural obsession, continues to captivate collectors and botanists alike.

At Kew Gardens, a rare set of these floral masterpieces serves as a time capsule of Thornton's genius, inviting modern eyes to wander through his enchanted garden of copper-plate engravings and mezzotints, where every petal and leaf whispers secrets of a time when botany ruled the intellectual world.

His Temple of Flora does not bloom; it burns—botanical illustration ablaze with erotic precision, each plate a fevered hymn to Carl Linnaeus’ sexual system of plants, where petals part like flesh, and pollen drifts like whispered names.

Any treasure you find here can be shipped to:

North America

Canada, Mexico, Continental United States

South America

Argentina, Brazil

Europe

Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican City

Middle East & Asia

China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam

Africa

South Africa

Oceania

Australia, New Zealand

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Orders to the rest of the world coming as soon as I can!

Delivery to 60+ countries

Free shipping to USA, CA, UK, EU, AUS & NZ

Rest of the world: Free shipping for orders over $100

USA: 4-9 days • Canada: 5-12 days • UK: 4-9 days • Europe: 5-10 days • Australia: 4-9 days • New Zealand: 5-12 days • Rest of the world: 3-4 weeks

Why the wait? Every treasure you find here is produced after you purchase. So the delivery times include production, quality assurance, thoughtful packaging and shipping. More details on orders and shipping

Every package tracked so you can watch your treasure move from A to B to You.

Sent carbon neutral at no extra charge. Helping you gain peace of mind your money's being kind.

1. You're welcome to open a return / exchange request within 30 days of your order's delivery. All items for return must be delivered back in their original condition, with their original packaging included.

2. No guarantees your return will be approved if you send items back to before the approval of your return request.

3. No returns, refunds or exchanges on discounted or sale items.

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