Art of Play - Wonder by Design

A Garden Eden

A Garden Eden - Main image
$15 $30 In stock

Category: Architecture

Art meets science in this beautiful catalog of botanical illustrations. Drawn from the archives of the National Library of Vienna, these exquisite color reproductions range from 6th-century manuscripts to 19th-century masterpieces and celebrate both the skill of botanical artists and the abundance of natural flora.

Botanical masterworks from the National Library of Vienna

In pursuit of both knowledge and delight, the craft of botanical illustration has always required not only meticulous draftsmanship but also a rigorous scientific understanding. This new edition of a TASCHEN classic celebrates the botanical tradition and talents with a selection of outstanding works from the National Library of Vienna, including many new images.

From Byzantine manuscripts right through to 19th-century masterpieces, through peonies, callas, and chrysanthemums, these exquisite reproductions dazzle in their accuracy and their aesthetics. Whether in gently furled leaves, precisely textured fruits, or the sheer beauty and variety of colors, we celebrate an art form as tender as it is precise, and ever more resonant amid our growing awareness of our ecological surroundings and the preciousness of natural flora.

Customer Reviews (4.8 / 5 · 5 reviews)

Avery ★★★★★

The color accuracy on these botanical plates is stunning—the 6th-century manuscript pages come through with a depth I didn't expect from a catalog. Flipping through feels like a private tour of Vienna’s archive, and the paper quality makes each page worth lingering on.

John ★★★★★

These plates feel like little windows into a lost world, especially the 6th-century manuscript pages. The color reproduction is so rich and true that I keep flipping back and forth between the same illustrations just to admire the detail. A stunning piece for anyone who loves botanical art.

Ruby I. ★★★★★

I was flipping through this before bed and couldn't stop at just one page—the 6th-century manuscript reproductions have this incredible depth of color that photos just don't capture. The paper quality makes each plate feel like a small treasure. It's the kind of book that makes you want to frame hal