Historical information
Johnson undertook this project with a State Library of Victoria 'Creative Fellowship' in 2012, drawing on early botanical illustrations by Sydney Parkinson, Pierre-Joseph Redoute, Ferdinand Bauer and others from the Library's 'Rare Books' Collection. Johnson printed this series in 2013 while working as artist in residence at Baldessin Press, St. Andrews.
Significance
'Voyages Botanical' celebrates the untamed treasures of Australia’s (Nillumbik) vast native flower garden. The work speaks to Nillumbik's natural environment and colonial heritage in the context of our national story.
Physical description
Charcoal solander box with artwork title, artist name and flower motif in silver lettering bottom centre (edition 4/5). Catalogue: 52 colour pages. Solar plate engravings x 30; ink on paper. Series A: Ten multi-layered solar plate engravings (edition of 12); Series B: Ten flower images drawn from living specimens (edition of 12); Series C: Ten details from early botanical art engravings (open edition)
Inscriptions & markings
Charcoal solander box with artwork title, artist name and flower motif in silver lettering bottom centre. Solar plate engravings x 30: Series A, B: all prints have edition number '4/12' to bottom left of image, artwork title () centre and artist signature 'Christine Johnson 2014' to bottom right of image. Series C: all prints have artist initials signed 'CJ' bottom right of images. All inscriptions in pencil.