Botanical Artists
'From 1919 until the 1950s the only pictorial records of the orchids at Glasnevin are photographs, which are of course, not nearly as interesting and informative as the watercolours.'
(Nelson and Sayers, 2002)
A botanical illustration is a scientific plant record with botanical accuracy to enable identification of a plant. The illustration will typically include all relevant aspects of the plant. It will always be scientifically and botanically correct but not necessarily complete and nearly always a watercolour.
One of the oldest surviving botanical manuscripts from the sixth century is the Vienna Dioscorides now in the National Library of Vienna. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) and Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), introduced a dramatic change to the art of botanical illustration with precision and artistic sensibility.
As the plants of his ever-expanding orchid collection began to flower, Moore sought to create a permanent record of their flowers. To this end he employed the services of several botanical artists during his tenure at Glasnevin namely, Lydia Shackleton, Josephine Humphries and Alice Jacob.
Lydia Shackleton (1828-1914) was a Quaker from Ballitore and studied at the Royal Dublin School of Art and Design. In 1884, at the age of 54, she began painting for Moore, thus becoming the first artist-in-residence at Glasnevin. Due to diminishing eyesight, she retired from the role in 1907 and by then had painted over 1,500 fine watercolour portraits, over 1,000 being of orchids.
'Miss Shackleton’s paintings provide a unique record of Frederick Moore’s achievements and the skill of the Glasnevin’s gardeners.'
(Nelson & McCracken, 1987)
A contemporary of Shackleton’s was Josephine Humphries, who has 93 paintings in the Garden's archive. Alice Jacob (1862 –1921) succeeded Lydia Shackleton as artist-in-residence and botanical illustrator. She produced illustrations of more than 150 orchids from 1908 to 1919. Her illustrations are scientifically rigorous, including dissections and enlargements. Alice Jacob attended the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. Her last paintings for the Gardens are dated 31st May 1919. She died in Dublin on 31st July 1921 aged 59. There is no record of Shackleton being paid for her work during her time in Glasnevin but we do know that Alice Jacob did receive payment.
'Moore was permitted to spend not more than £3 a year commissioning her.'
(Nelson and Sayers, 2002)