History of Botanical Art

Stephanie Waskins, Director, Arader Galleries San Francisco

Catherine M. Watters

Last Thursday, September 24th, Arader Galleries hosted a reception and presentation on the history of botanical art from the 16th century to the present day in our 435 Jackson Street location in collaboration with the artist, Catherine M. Watters. Catherine has been teaching botanical illustration and watercolor at Filoli in Woodside, California since 1999 and is a primary instructor and curriculum developer for the Filoli Botanical Art Certificate Program. She lectures regularly on The History of Botanical Art and The Gardens of Normandy, and served on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Botanical Artists from 2000-2006.

San Francisco gallery director, Stephanie Waskins, began the lecture showcasing spectacular examples from the Arader Gallery inventory of original botanical watercolors and prints dating as early as 1547 with illustrated texts devoted to herbals and florilegiums. The lecture included the works of Leonhart Fuchs, Basil Besler, Maria Sybilla Merian, Pierre-Joseph Redoute, and George Brookshaw among other artists. Catherine’s original watercolors of botanical subjects were shown alongside these historic examples.

We encourage you to visit the Filoli and inquire about Catherine’s classes should you have an interest in pursuing the art of botanical illustration. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to obtain a copy of a catalog from our gallery on the history of botanical art from the 16th through the 19th centuries.