The Banksias
Encyclopedia
The Banksias, by Celia Rosser
, is a three-volume series of monographs containing paintings of every Banksia
species. Its publication represented the first time such a large genus had been entirely painted by a single botanical artist. It has been described as "one of the outstanding botanical works of this century."
The paintings themselves are watercolours on Arches rag paper. The three volumes comprise plates reproduced using offset printing
, and bound in green leather. Alex George
wrote the accompanying text.
Rosser began working on the series in 1974. Volume I of The Banksias, containing 24 plates, was published in 1981. The edition comprised 730 books and 100 portfolios. Volume II, published in 1988, also contained 24 plates, and was also released in an edition of 730 books and 100 portfolios. Volume III, completed in 2000, contained 28 plates, and was released in an edition of 530 books and 300 portfolios. Since the publication of Volume III, a new Banksia, B. rosserae
has been described; Rosser subsequently painted it and released a set of prints. In 2007, the genus Dryandra was transferred to Banksia
, so there are now a great many Banksia species that have not been painted by Rosser.
Each volume of The Banksias has been presented to the Queen
by the Australian Government as a gift of the Australian people. Largely on the basis of her work for The Banksias, Rosser was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia
1995 for her contribution to botanical art, and the Jill Smythies Award for botanical art in 1997.
Celia Rosser
Celia Elizabeth Rosser is a renowned Australian botanical illustrator, best known for having published The Banksias, a three-volume series of monographs containing watercolour paintings of every Banksia species....
, is a three-volume series of monographs containing paintings of every Banksia
Banksia
Banksia is a genus of around 170 species in the plant family Proteaceae. These Australian wildflowers and popular garden plants are easily recognised by their characteristic flower spikes and fruiting "cones" and heads. When it comes to size, banksias range from prostrate woody shrubs to trees up...
species. Its publication represented the first time such a large genus had been entirely painted by a single botanical artist. It has been described as "one of the outstanding botanical works of this century."
The paintings themselves are watercolours on Arches rag paper. The three volumes comprise plates reproduced using offset printing
Offset printing
Offset printing is a commonly used printing technique in which the inked image is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface...
, and bound in green leather. Alex George
Alex George
Alexander Segger George is a Western Australian botanist. He is the authority on the plant genera Banksia and Dryandra...
wrote the accompanying text.
Rosser began working on the series in 1974. Volume I of The Banksias, containing 24 plates, was published in 1981. The edition comprised 730 books and 100 portfolios. Volume II, published in 1988, also contained 24 plates, and was also released in an edition of 730 books and 100 portfolios. Volume III, completed in 2000, contained 28 plates, and was released in an edition of 530 books and 300 portfolios. Since the publication of Volume III, a new Banksia, B. rosserae
Banksia rosserae
Banksia rosserae is a recently described species of Banksia. Endemic to inland Western Australia, it is the only Banksia species to occur solely within the arid zone.-Description:...
has been described; Rosser subsequently painted it and released a set of prints. In 2007, the genus Dryandra was transferred to Banksia
Banksia
Banksia is a genus of around 170 species in the plant family Proteaceae. These Australian wildflowers and popular garden plants are easily recognised by their characteristic flower spikes and fruiting "cones" and heads. When it comes to size, banksias range from prostrate woody shrubs to trees up...
, so there are now a great many Banksia species that have not been painted by Rosser.
Each volume of The Banksias has been presented to the Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
by the Australian Government as a gift of the Australian people. Largely on the basis of her work for The Banksias, Rosser was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
1995 for her contribution to botanical art, and the Jill Smythies Award for botanical art in 1997.