| |
 |
|
 |
| |
| |
THE FLOWER HUNTER
60" X 48" Oil Painting
Video
Early American Botanist William Bartram explores the East Florida
Wilderness, 1773.
In the year 1773, a young man appeared in the Florida wilderness. He
quietly went about the task of sketching and noting in his journal
all of the many plants, flowers and wildlife he encountered along
the St. Johns River in the British colony of East Florida. His name
was William Bartram, son of King George's Royal botanist in the
American Colonies. Under the patronage of Dr. John Fothergill of
London, William explored the Southeast, documenting his travels in
words and pictures.
In his lifetime, Bartram had been associated with such notable
Americans as Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, who later had asked
Bartram to accompany the expedition of Lewis and Clark but he
declined for reasons of health.
The solitary wanderer was content to exist among the rivers and
backwoods, absorbed in his observations and recording his
discoveries in his journal. He never married and his attempts at
farming and business were unsuccessful. But the writings of this
quiet, gentle man revealed the wonders of an unknown land to all
who would read his accounts. In a time when to wander away from
the safety of the white man's settlements was to invite peril at
the hands of hostile Indians, this peaceful man was left unharmed
as he made his way through the hunting grounds of the warriors, who
observed in wonder the man they called "Puc Puggy" ... The Flower
Hunter.
|
|
|