Large–Flowering Sensitive Plant from The Temple of Flora (1807) by Robert John Thornton

Large–Flowering Sensitive Plant — from The Temple of Flora (1807)

Feathery fronds and powder-puff blooms poised as if to breathe. In this romantic botanical plate from Robert John Thornton’s visionary florilegium, the large–flowering sensitive plant unfurls its bipinnate leaves—ever ready to fold at the lightest touch—against a theatrical sky. Science meets poetry in living green.

Why it captivates

• Botanical drama — delicate foliage and downy globes rendered with period precision.

• Kinetic idea — a plant famed for its touch-response, captured in poised stillness.

• Romantic setting — classical landscape and expressive sky elevate the specimen.

• Harmonic palette — cool greens, soft pinks, and warm paper tones suit any room.

• Print-culture icon — a highlight from the most ambitious botanical work of its age.

• Statement artwork — graceful focal point for living rooms, libraries, and studies.

What you’ll see

A tall sensitive plant with bipinnate leaves, spurred stems, and rounded puffball inflorescences; tendrils and leaflets arranged with painterly care; a distant landscape and atmospheric sky framing the specimen. Up close: crisp line, stipple, and tonal washes. From a step back: a calm, theatrical tableau.

A richer historical frame

Published in 1807, The Temple of Flora united botany, art, and allegory. Physician-publisher Robert John Thornton marshalled leading artists and engravers to stage plants in dramatic environments—an Enlightenment celebration of nature, rendered with romantic splendour.

Choose your finish

🌟 Heavyweight Paper (160 gsm matte)
Archival-grade, smooth matte stock ideal for framing under glass. Crisp detail, minimal glare.

💎 Laminated (True Encapsulation)
Sealed in 2 × 80-micron gloss laminate, edge-to-edge. Durable, wipe-clean—great for busy spaces.

🪵 Laminated + Timber Hang Rails (Ready to hang)
Lacquered natural timber rails with fitted hanging cord; no frame required.
Please allow up to 10 working days for hang-railed delivery.

🏆 Archival Canvas (395 gsm HP Professional Matte)
Museum-quality texture with pigment-based, fade-resistant inks for rich tone and fine detail.

🪵 Canvas + Timber Hang Rails (Gallery-ready)
As above, supplied with lacquered natural timber rails and hanging cord.
Please allow up to 10 working days for hang-railed delivery.

Size (W × H)

581 × 841 mm (approx. 22.87 × 33.11 in)

• Orientation: Portrait

• Aspect ratio: ~0.691 : 1

• Nearest standard frame: A1 portrait (594 × 841 mm) with a custom mat, or custom 581 × 841 mm frame

• Framing tips:

  • Classic look: cut the mat window to ~577 × 837 mm for a neat 2–3 mm overlap.

  • Contemporary look: float-mount in an A1 frame for a clean gallery reveal.

Custom sizing: Available on request (alternative aspect ratios or added white border).

Specifications

Who it’s for

• Botanical-art enthusiasts & gardeners

• Romantics & classicists drawn to mythic settings

• Collectors & stylists curating elegant, heritage-rich interiors

• Educators & libraries illustrating the art-science nexus

Our Commitment

Every print is produced locally in Australia on premium substrates with careful colour management, then checked and packed by hand so it arrives ready to impress. From studio to wall, we stand behind the craftsmanship and historical integrity of your piece.

Let delicate fronds and romantic sky breathe life into your space—order your fine-art print of Large–Flowering Sensitive Plant today.