Flower: Exploring the World in Bloom

A breathtaking celebration of flowers spanning centuries, cultures, and continents – now available in a compact format

Flower invites readers to explore the endless ways artists and image-makers have employed floral motifs throughout history. Now available in a sleek compact format, this critically acclaimed survey showcases more than 300 gorgeous large-scale images representing a range of styles and media – from fine art, botanical illustrations, and sculptures to floral arrangements, film stills, and fabric designs.

Curated by an international panel of art historians, museum curators, botanists, florists, horticulturalists, and more, the wide variety of works are each accompanied by a brief, enlightening description. Pages follow a visually stunning sequence, with unexpected pairings that create connection and contrast. Readers will discover van Gogh’s sunflowers next to a twentieth-century photograph, a delicate Victorian-era diamond bodice ornament juxtaposed with a baroque oil still life, and other surprising spreads, making leafing through this book a joy for anyone who appreciates the beauty of blooms.

Advisory panel: Lugene B. Bruno, Dr James Compton, Shane Connolly, Anne-Pierre d'Albis-Ganem, Celia Fisher, Susan M. Fraser, Victoria Gaiger, Elizabeth Hammer, Daisy Helman, Catherine Hess, Pascale Heurtel, Dr Lisa Hostetler, Lyndsey Ingram, Professor Dr Hans Walter Lack, Dr Fred G. Meijer, Colleen Morris, Polly Nicholson, Lynn Parker, Anna Pavord, Gill Saunders, Lindsey Taylor, Anatole Tchikine and Betsy Wieseman

Additional texts: Giovanni Aloi, Louise Bell, Lugene Bruno, Shane Connolly, Clare Coulson, Louisa Elderton, Celia Fisher, Diane Fortenberry, Victoria Gaiger, Daisy Helman, Pascale Heurtel, Lyndsey Ingram, Hans Walter Lack, Fred G. Meijer, Alison Morris, Colleen Morris, Polly Nicholson, Michele Robecchi, Rebecca Roke, Gill Saunders, James Smith, Lindsey Taylor, David Trigg and Martin Walters

Review

‘A substantial survey of how art and culture have interpreted the floral world.’ – Financial Times, How to Spend It

‘... a doorstopper, showstopper of a book that celebrates blossoms in fabric, photography, painting and ceramic.’ – Wall Street Journal

‘A new book from Phaidon examines [flowers'] rich symbolism, drawing on lush, visually striking images from several centuries of creative practice.’ – Aesthetica Magazine

‘In normal times, visits to gardens, jaunts to discover those famous scenic landscapes and soaking up lush vistas are, of course, one of the highlights for travellers the world over. Flower takes its readers on a different journey – but a voyage nonetheless – across continents and cultures to discover the endless ways artists and designers throughout history, from ancient Egypt to the modern day in New York, have depicted flowers and floral motifs.’ – Forbes

‘A sumptuous exploration of how blossoms and floral motifs have been used in various art forms throughout history.’ – People Magazine

‘Flower explores the origins of artists' and designers' affinity with blooms across continents and cultures.’ – Design Week

‘Like life, the flower is fragile and temporary, but we can cherish the beauty of them all the more thanks to Flower.’ – Gardens Illustrated

‘Celebrating the beauty and appeal of flowers throughout art, history, and culture, this volume takes readers on a journey across continents and cultures to discover the endless ways artists and image-makers have employed floral motifs throughout history.’ – Publishers Weekly

‘As deftly designed as it is readable, the volume uses flowers as eye candy, luring readers across time and continents to enjoy floral motifs.’ – 360 West Magazine

‘Absolutely a must-have in my library. The scope of floral artwork and the writing about it is mind-blowing.’ – Tiffanie Turner, artist, architect, and author of The Fine Art of Paper Flowers

About the Author

Phaidon Editors

Anna Pavord’s books include her globally bestselling The Tulip and The Naming of Names, and more recently The Seasonal Gardener, published by Phaidon. Her gardening column in the Independent newspaper in the UK ran for thirty years from the paper’s launch in 1986 until the last print edition. Today she writes for the Sunday Times and is an Associate Editor of Gardens Illustrated magazine. Pavord lives in West Dorset and was awarded the Gold Veitch medal from the Royal Horticultural Society in 2001.

Shane Connolly is the founder of Shane Connolly & Company Flowers, London, and Royal Warrant holder to HM King Charles III.