Darwin and the Art of Botany:

Observations on the Curious World of Plants by James T. Costa and Bobbi Angell

An enthralling blend: the innovative techniques and unexpected discoveries of Darwin's botanical research paired with exquisite botanical illustrations. A writing collaboration between evolutionary biologist James T. Costa and scientific illustrator Bobbi Angell, with artwork from Oak Spring Garden Foundation, published in 2023 by Timber Press.

Review by Sarah Gardner - Botanical Artist and ABA Committee & Education Team Member

“The first book to present Darwin’s most important writings about plants in one accessible volume illuminating his work as never before.’ (Timber Press)

Having just finished reading Darwin and the Art of Botany, I think perhaps “obsession” is not a strong enough word to describe Charles Darwin’s love of flora! The book presents Darwin as ‘an artist of science’, a self-described ‘Experimentiser’, whose mind was always busy coming up with new and creative ways to test his theories. It does this in a way which is both vivid and appreciative of his work, lovingly researched and beautifully presented.

The initial idea of ‘elaborating a historical text with historical art’ came to Bobbi Angell after she toured the library at Oak Spring Garden Foundation in Virginia, USA. It is a place that abounds with rare books and illustrations on a botanical theme, collected by its late founder, Rachel Lambert “Bunny” Mellon. In the foreword to the book, Sir Peter Crane FRS, President of Oak Spring Garden Foundation, enthuses ‘we knew immediately that this would be an exciting way to bridge science and art’.

Angell took her idea to evolutionary biologist Jim Costa who was investigating a collection of Darwinia at the time. Darwin’s work was a prime candidate for Angell’s attention. She and Costa agreed to work together on this project encompassing findings from all six of Darwin’s books on plants, plus his seminal publication On the Origin of Species.

'Dianthus caryophyllus'. Water and bodycolour on vellum by Georg Dionysius Ehret, in Flowers, Butterflies and Shells (image courtesy of publisher)

The product of their collaboration covers topics from orchids, pollination and flower forms to insectivorous plants, climbers and plant movement. Its forty-five chapters, arranged alphabetically by genus, feature sumptuous botanical illustration by artists including Pancrace Bessa, Johann Theodor de Bry, Sydenham Edwards, Georg Dionysius Ehret, Dame Ann Hamilton, William Jackson Hooker, Margaret and Elizabeth Wharton and Jan Withoos.

‘Coryanthes maculata var. punctata'. Lithograph by John Nugent Fitch, from Robert Warner, The Orchid Album (image courtesy of publisher)

In addition to showcasing some wonderful examples of historical botanical art, the book provides botanical artists like myself with a wealth of information on the adaptations and oddities of a wide variety of plants as seen through the prism of Darwin's contagious enthusiasm. The authors share excerpts and beautifully rendered scientific drawings from Darwin’s texts, along with insights on his motivations and challenges, revealed through his correspondence with likeminded enthusiasts.

: ‘Angraecum sesquipedale'. Chromolithograph from Frederick Sander, 'Reichenbachia' (image courtesy of publisher)

I was intrigued to read that the role insects play in pollination was not widely acknowledged in Darwin’s time. The book reveals how Darwin was able to contribute to our understanding of insect pollination. We encounter him observing bumblebees (known to Darwin as ‘humble-bees’) as they slid into limpid pools within bucket orchids (Coryanthes). Unable to fly after their drenching, they escaped along narrow passageways in the orchid’s labellum where their backs were generously loaded with pollen as they squeezed through. We also find out what leads Darwin to predict the existence of a sphinx moth endowed with an improbably long proboscis after studying the nectaries of comma orchids (Angraecum).

The stories of Darwin’s experimentation are charming to read. We find out how he discovers that the ‘irritable organs’ of Bignonia display texture sensitivity, noting that they ‘abhor a simple stick, do not much relish rough bark, but delight in wool ’. Even from his sick bed Darwin observes hops (Humulus lupulus) which have been brought to his room in a pot so he can time the revolutions of the shoots as they twine their way up supporting sticks.

‘Humulus lupus’. Watercolour by Elizabeth Wharton, British Flowers (image courtesy of publisher)

Darwin and the Art of Botany is an entertaining and informative read, filled with memorable tales and interesting facts. Angell and Costa have brought Darwin’s work, self-deprecatingly critiqued by the man himself as ‘rather dull’, to the modern audience and allowed it to bloom again.

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Author Biographies

James T Costa is an evolutionary biologist, entomologist and historian of science. He is professor of evolutionary biology at Western Carolina University, executive director of the Highlands Biological Station and a long-time Research Associate in entomology at Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology. He has authored numerous scientific research papers and several books about naturalists Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, including most recently Darwin’s Backyard: How Small Experiments Led to Big Theory, and Radical Nature: The Revolutionary Life of Alfred Russel Wallace. He lectures widely on the history of evolutionary biology in the US and abroad. Visit his website at jamestcosta.com.

Bobbi Angell is a scientific illustrator, printmaker, instructor and gardener. Drawing neotropical plants for botanists at New York Botanical Garden and other institutions led to her interest in Charles Darwin. Bobbi is co-author of A Botanist’s Vocabulary and her pen and ink illustrations have been published in floras including Vascular Plants of Central French Guiana, Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico, and Intermountain Flora. Bobbi lives in southern Vermont where she seeks out, draws and grows native and unusual plants. Visit her website at https://www.bobbiangell.com.

To Purchase this book:

Published by Timber Press, Inc., ISBN 978-1-64326-079-2.  https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/james-t-costa/darwin-and-the-art-of-botany/9781643260792/?lens=timber-press

Also available internationally online and in bookshops