Watercolour by Clarence Bicknell of Astragalus monspessulanus (genus Astragalus), native to S. Central & S. Europe to W. Ukraine, NW. Africa. Conservation; Rare. Habit; Perennial; Not climbing. Vernacular; “Astragal Monpeliski”, and, in French, “Tragant”. Very little is given about this wild flower in the normal sources, so let’s talk about the man to whom Clarence […]
Astragalus and Burnat in the Book of Guests in Esperanto Read More »
Clarence’s artistic endeavours flourished when he could combine his creativity and botanical knowledge with his design skills. Instead of having a standard book for signatures of the many visitors to the Casa Fontanalba (in 10 years he had over 250 visitors who made their way up the mountain road), he illustrated in advance each right-hand
Aquilegia alpina in the Casa Fontanalba Visitors’ Book Read More »
In our regular postings on Facebook, occasionally here, we have featured at least three times Clarence’s watercolour designs based on the fritillary. It’s an extrordinarily beautiful bell-shaped brightly-patterned wild flower of the Alps – all its varieties inspired Clarence to exceptional artistic creations.This article brings his various fritillary creations on one page, and photos by
Clarence’s inspiring fritillaries Read More »
The Book of Guests in Esperanto by Clarence Bicknell is published today in text form. We provide a transcription of the Esperanto original and the English translation. A reproduction of each page is available to students and researchers on application (info@old.clarencebicknell.com). Clarence wrote in this small vellum-bound album his notes in Esperanto on guests who
The Book of Guests in Esperanto – text published Read More »
We are pleased to be able to publish this interesting paper by my cousin Ian Fraser. David Roberts was his great great great great grandfather ands his daughter Christine (1821-1872) married Henry Sanford Bicknell (1818-1880) who like his father Ehanan loved collecting art. Ian recovered Roberts’ lost journal of 1851-1860 from among his father’s papers
David Roberts and the Royal Academy, by Ian Fraser Read More »
Clarence Bicknell, the Collector. What is it about the human brain which makes collecting so compulsive? Many people find delight in hobby collecting; certain types of antiques, Toby jugs, Fabergé eggs, medicine jars, French pochoir fashion prints of the 1920s or garden gnomes. Children (and grown-up children) like to collect toys, especially when they make
Although Clarence is known as a painter of botanical water colours, he painted and drew sketches all his life. The Bicknell family collection and the Museo Bicknell have many examples of architecture, landscapes and images which Clarence observed on his travels. His watercolour of Florence, left, is dated 1885, the same year as the publication of
Painting & Drawing Read More »
Clarence’s painting and drawing was not limited to his water colours of plants. He sketched landscapes, architectural detail, and other subjects especially when he was walking or travelling. Much of his illustration is enhanced into patterns, such as the repetitive use of the stem of a flower and its blossom to create a frame for
In the summer of 1886, Clarence Bicknell rented a house at Castérino on the gentler slopes of Mount Bego, where he could combine his studies of alpine plants and the rock engravings. Increasingly his summers were spent in amassing his collection of drawings, rubbings, and photographs, on which he based his first papers in Italian
