Ferdinand Bauer Limited Edition print. Australian Ottelia Ovalifolia

by Bauer, Ferdinand

Rare Limited Edition reproduction of Ferdinand Bauer watercoloured drawing of Australian native Swamp Lily Ottelia Ovalifolia for "The Australian Painting of Ferdinand Bauer", a selection reproduced from Bauer's 'Illustrations Florae Novae Hollandiae' (Illustrations of the Flora of Australia originally published in London circa 1815.

Between 1801 and 1805 Bauer accompanied Matthew Flinders on the first circumnavigation of Australia. Unfortunately Brown could not find financial support for publication on his return to England, so Bauer left England and returned to Vienna where he finished his series of plants and animals of Australia. The high quality of Ferdinand Bauer's botanical illustrations combined exceptional scientific observation with subtle artistry.

Belonging to the order Hydrocharitaceae, it is an aquatic plant with the general appearance of a waterlily. Its leaves flot on the surface of the water and its flowers rise above them. The flowers have three broad white or yellowish petals, marked with maroon-purple at the base and yellow stamens. In November 1803 it was found by Robert Brown at Parramatta, Hawkesbury and Richmond, New South Wales, but is found in all Australian states except Tasmania.

The botanical plate paper size is 50 x 33cm (19.6 x 13 inches). For presentation at the time of publication, each of these pages was lightly attached at the vertical edges to a dark green sheet of thick paper which has slightly shrunk.