While cleaning out some files, I found a program for an earlier exhibit, entitled "Five Centuries of Botanical Illustration". Within was included the work of Nova Scotian watercolourist and teacher, Maria Morris Miller. With the assistance of naturalist Titus Smith, she painted more than 100 native Nova Scotian wildflowers, mostly in the 1830s. Some of her works were published as hand-coloured lithographs. She also taught painting, where her students learned to paint by copying her pieces.
One of Ms. Morris' paintings, of the Mayflower, was made into a postcard, widely scattered by Museum visitors after the Botanical Illustration exhibit of the 1990s. A larger-than-life model of the Mayflower based on this painting was created for a wall at the Museum of Natural History in Halifax by our own model-maker, David Coldwell. Watch for its return soon to the small exhibit case featuring the Mayflower in historical objects and nature.
Azor Vienneau, formerly the staff artist of the Nova Scotia Museum created many watercolours of Nova Scotia flora. His plant studies and sketches were used by Mr. Coldwell to create dozens of notable pieces of botanical art, usually of wire and latex, mounted on walnut bases.
Have a botanical question? Join us on Twitter, July 21, 10:30AM ADT and Ask a Curator. We may even have special guests joining in to keep the dialog blooming!
Moccasin Flower, painting by Azor Vienneau
Shadbush model, created by David Coldwell
Blueberries, Maria Morris Miller
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