Australian Zieria lavigata. Smooth-leaved Zieria. Paxton c1842.

by Paxton, Joseph

Candytuft antique print - "from Port Jackson, New Holland".

Original hand-coloured lithograph by Samuel Holden for Joseph Paxton. Published in London c.1841 for Paxton's Magazine of Botany & Register of Flowering Plants.

Sir Joseph Paxton (1803-1865) was a hugely talented man. With little formal education, Paxton began as a gardener at 15, and ended up knighted and a member of Parliament - which was an even greater feat considering the times he lived in.

Paxton's intelligence, enthusiasm and hard work were rewarded by his appointment when only 23 as Head Gardener of one of England’s finest gardens, the Duke of Devonshire’s Chatsworth Estate. Although usually considered a landscape gardener, Paxton’s diverse talents gained him a reputation as both architect and engineer, particularly for his design of glasshouses. Paxton was knighted for his design of the Crystal Palace for the Great London International Exhibition of 1851. The enormous wrought iron and glass structure was of revolutionary style and building method (of regular-sized pre-constructed panels).

Size of page 230mm x 150mm ( 9 x 6 inches).