A botanical album containing 25 watercolor paintings created by Lady Elizabeth Parker Fane in the 18th century.

Lady Elizabeth Parker Fane (1751-1829) was born in Shirburn Castle, Watlington, Oxfordshire, the family seat of the Earls of Macclesfield; she was the daughter of Thomas Parker, 3rd Earl of Macclesfield, and Mary Parker, the daughter of Sir William Heathcote, 1st Baronet. In 1773, Elizabeth Parker married John Fane (1751-1824) and together they had six children; their home was in Wormsley, near Watlington, Oxfordshire. John Fane was a Tory politician who represented Oxfordshire in eight successive Parliaments; he was also the president of the Oxfordshire Agriculture Society. While still a teenager, Lady Elizabeth was taught botanical illustration by Georg Ehret, a German who arrived in England in 1736, he was considered the pre-eminent botanical draughtsman of the eighteenth century. Ehret taught both Lady Elizabeth and her mother, Mary Parker, Countess of Macclesfield. In the eighteenth century, botanical illustration was deemed essential education for aristocratic women and both women became expert amateurs. Lady Elizabeth died in June 1829.

0.83 Linear Feet (1 volume)

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