Mary Parker, Countess of Macclesfield, botanical album, 1756-1767

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Summary

Creators:
Macclesfield, Mary Parker, Countess of, approximately 1726-1812
Abstract:
A botanical album containing 48 watercolor paintings created by Mary Parker, Countess of Macclesfield, in the 18th century.
Extent:
0.83 Linear Feet (1 volume, accompanying material)
Language:
Materials are in English and Latin.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Mary Parker, Countess of Macclesfield, botanical album, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

A botanical album created by Mary Parker, Countess of Macclesfield; she started the album in 1756 when she was 30 years of age. Flower painting had become a fashionable occupation for the wives and daughters of the great houses of England and Mary Parker achieved exceptional ability under the tutelage of Georg Ehret. The album contains 48 watercolor and gouache paintings on parchment; depicted are both sides of the plant's leaves and also shown are more than one reproductive stage for each specimen: with the early formation of the blossom, the growing petals, and the full expression of the flower. The images in the album depict numerous plant specimens, sometimes with butterflies and other insects, most likely local to the Macclesfield estate, Shirburn Castle, in Oxfordshire. Many of the illustrations are identified by names predating Carl Linnaeus' binomial plant nomenclature in his "Species Plantarum" (1753), while other notations on the illustrations include Linnaeus' names. The album is bound in a contemporary, richly gilt morocco wallet binding, with interior green silk ties; the binding is likely by Richard Montagu. The pages in the album are marked with the Macclesfield armorial blind stamp. It has a lock and key fastening, and while the original key is present, the lock has been deactivated by a professional restorer, please do not attempt to use the key; also present is a red velvet bookmark.

Biographical / historical:

Mary Parker, Countess of Macclesfield (approximately 1726-1812) was born in Hursley, Hampshire, the daughter of Sir William Heathcote, 1st Baronet, and Lady Elizabeth Parker. On December 12, 1749, Mary Parker married her first cousin, Thomas Parker, 3rd Earl of Macclesfield (1723-1795); together they had two sons and a daughter, Lady Elizabeth Parker (1751-1829). Thomas Parker was a politician and Fellow of the Royal Society. The Macclesfield family seat is Shirburn Castle, Watlington, Oxfordshire. Mary Parker, and her daughter Elizabeth, were taught botanical drawing by German Georg Ehret (1807-1770), the pre-eminent botanical draughtsman of the eighteenth century and former head of Oxford Botanical Garden. In the eighteenth century, botanical illustration was deemed essential education for aristocratic women and both women became expert amateurs. Mary Parker died on May 20, 1812.

Acquisition information:
Purchased for the Huntington from Maggs Bros. Ltd., by the Library Collectors' Council, March 2022.
Custodial history:

The botanical album has been held in the library at Shirburn Castle since it was created; it was lastly owned by the 9th Earl of Macclesfield.

Processing information:

The album was cataloged by Gayle M. Richardson in August 2022.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

RESTRICTED. Available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and delivery time. Please view digital surrogate.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Mary Parker, Countess of Macclesfield, botanical album, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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