A passion for orchids

Since ancient times the orchid has been a source of fascination and inspiration -- not just for horticulturists but for artists, writers, historians and others drawn to their mysterious beauty and unparalleled variety. Collected by one of America's foremost orchid experts, this treasury of more than sixty antique orchid illustrations offers a cultural history of the flower as well as sublime reproductions by famous botanical artists.The world's obsession with the orchid can be traced to ancient Chinese calligraphers and Japanese illustrators who included the flower in their beautifully rendered landscapes. By the eighteenth century orchid collecting was an established pastime in Europe. A generation later saw the publication of lavish, expensive books devoted to the flower. The passion for orchids continues to this day, with more than 35,000 known varieties and more being propagated every day. In A Passion for Orchids Jack Kramer offers an intriguing cultural history of the flower. Stunning color plates by such renowned botanical illustrators as Martin J. Heade, Lucien Linden and Walter Hood Fitch are accompanied by brief histories of the artists, making this collection of orchid lore and art a unique addition to the libraries of art lovers, horticulturists, and collectors of this strangely alluring flower.