From Library Journal
This stunning showcase of paintings by over 80 contemporary botanical artists from all over the world comes from Sherwood's own comprehensive collection; she acquired the works presented here since 1995. The paintings are beautifully reproduced, often with additional enlarged details, showing both their meticulous scientific detail and their dramatic beauty. An introductory section features both recent works and classic botanical paintings, showing how well recent works compare. The main section reproduces over 200 paintings, with a detailed discussion of each painting as well as biographical information about the artists and their working methods and Sherwood's personal relationship with them. An appendix provides smaller reproductions of more of her paintings and information about their artists. Sherwood also furnishes a list of all artists in her collection, an international directory of where to find botanical art, and classes and a schedule of her collection's future exhibits. Sherwood's 1996 work, Contemporary Botanical Artists: The Shirley Sherwood Collection, has become the standard reference work for botanical artists; this book will be an equally important purchase for both botanical and art collections. Marit MacArthur Taylor, Auraria Lib., Denver Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
A golden age of botanical art followed Europe's great voyages of discovery, but the creation and appreciation of botanicals languished during the twentieth century until its final years, when international interest in this distinctive art form was renewed almost single-handedly by Sherwood, whose personal collection of contemporary botanical art is considered the world's most comprehensive. This brilliantly produced monograph, Sherwood's reverent tribute to the rebirth of this precious art form, matches the best of modern botanical art against that of past masters with exquisite reproductions of more than 200 paintings by an impressive array of international talent. Renaissance artists intently recorded visions of nature never seen before; today's artists seek to capture botanical beauties threatened with extinction, chronicling life-forms that may never be seen again. Captivating and commanding, this opulent compilation superbly showcases vivid new interpretations of familiar subjects. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Book Description
“International interest in this distinctive art form was renewed by Sherwood, whose personal collection is considered the world’s most comprehensive. Captivating and commanding, this opulent compilation superbly show-cases vivid new interpretations of familiar subjects.” —Booklist. “Equally important for both botanical and art collections.”—Library Journal.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Enjoy a captivating gallery of botanical art by some of today's most talented artists. More than 200 paintings by over 80 artists living in 20 different countries around the globe are showcased here in spectacular color. Assembled from the author's collection--the most comprehensive in the world--the works are presented with commentary about the artists and their methods of working. Details of many of the pieces are also highlighted to focus on specific elements of the artists' styles. Taken together, the paintings in this sumptuous volume represent a homage to the renaissance of this art form as well as a testament to the quality and originality of the contemporary artists who are capturing the beauty of nature in their work.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal