“Thesaurus Woolwardiae: Orchid Paintings by Florence Woolward” opens April 11, 2014, in the Church Exhibition Gallery of Lyman Plant House at the Botanic Garden of Smith College, 16 College Lane, Northhampton, Massachusetts.

British botanical illustrator and author Florence Woolward (1854-1936) was commissioned by the ninth Marquis of Lothian to paint his orchid collection, one of the most extensive orchid collections in the 19th century.

On display in this exhibit are prints from “Thesaurus Woolwardiae”, a compilation of the commissioned paintings. Woolward’s botanical artistry brings to life the orchids’ natural beauty and the spellbinding range of orchids she was tasked with portraying. Also featured in the exhibition, is information about the Smith College Botanic Garden orchid collection.

The exhibition, curated by Stride Scholar Karen Yu ’16, runs through January 31, 2015.

(Image of Rossioglossum-grande by Florence Woolward, courtesy of Smith College)