Discover Botanical Illustration: The Art and Science of Plant Depiction in Vienna

This section highlights the historical and ongoing importance of botanical illustration at the Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna. It explains how illustrations offer unique advantages over photography for scientific plant representation and showcases the artistic and aesthetic qualities of this practice. The garden collaborates with artists to create and display such works.

The Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna has a rich history in botanical illustration, dating back to the 18th century when Garden Director Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin trained painters to accurately depict plants collected on expeditions. Today, plant illustration remains vital for science, offering a holistic view of a plant's characteristics from root to bloom and capturing sequential stages of growth that photography cannot fully represent. This art form requires deep botanical knowledge, a precise eye for scale and proportion, and a keen sense for color, making plant illustration a highly aesthetic endeavor that produces remarkable works. In collaboration with the acclaimed artist Margareta Pertl and the Wiener Schule für Botanische Illustration, the garden regularly illustrates plants from its collections, such as Vanilla and Bulbophyllum. The garden also hosts courses in Botanical Illustration and exhibits the works of these illustrators both within and outside its premises. Currently, a project is underway to illustrate plants originally collected by Garden Director Jacquin in the 18th century, continuing a legacy of artistic and scientific documentation.

Information regarding courses and past exhibitions is available via the provided links. Specific ticketing details for current displays are not provided on this page.