Floral Empires: Plant Hunting and Painting in Victorian Britain

From orchids and azaleas to palm trees and passionflowers, thousands of new plants entered British gardens from abroad during the nineteenth century, often traveling through imperial networks of travel, trade, and cultural exchange. This lecture will explore the history of British plant hunting alongside the paintings of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood—a group of Victorian artists who filled their pictures with elaborate horticultural imagery and botanical motifs. Join 2022 Lloyd Fellow, Lindsay Wells as she discusses her research at the Lloyd Library.