After spending a large portion of my life with craftsman and pursuing a livelihood within a craft, I am drawn to reading about others, especially when they feature in my historical botanical meanderings. John Miller was good, and you may be interested to see his work. Here are two articles.
Enjoy!
WHEN writing the history of the Botanical Magazine, I alluded to this accomplished botanical artist (see Gardeners' Chronicle, third series, i., p. 451), and mentioned his work, Illustration of the Serial System of Linnaeus.
This abbreviated title is hardly intelligible, standing alone, yet it is almost unnecessary in this place to add that the sexual systems of plants is intended. At the time I wrote, I had not seen the work, but a magnificent copy, or rather double copy, one coloured and one uncoloured, has lately been presented by the Bentham Trustees to the library of the Royal Gardens, Kew, and I dare say a few particulars of the man and his work may interest many persons who have not direct facilities for obtaining such information.
In several other letters the great Swedish botanist speaks most highly of the quality of Miller's work, and stated that he should be under everlasting obligation to the author for so magnificently illustrating his classification of plants. Without going so far as to say that Miller was unsurpassed, even by his contemporaries, it may safely be asserted that much of the work of the present day is far behind him, and he will always rank as a master.
The plants selected for the purpose are mostly common ones, in order to render the book useful to persons who had not access to the rarer plants of botanic gardens and large private gardens; and the arrangement is, of course, after the Linnean classes and orders, beginning with Canna indica, to represent the Monandria monogynia, followed by Blitum virgatum, referred to the Monandria digynia, though it is now known that the stamens vary in number from one to five.
Each class and order is taken in its turn, and some of the plates are most elaborate productions, exhibiting an amount of detail that is truly surprising, both in the drawing of the plant itself, and the number of dissections. Although the object was to choose common plants, such comparatively little known subjects appear as Hamamelis virginica, Turnera ulmifolia, Petiveria alliacea, Galenia africana, Cassytha baccifera, Melianthus major, Pentapetes phoenicea, Hermannia alnifolia, and Momordica charantia.
Specially effective among commoner plants are the Sunflower, Hollyhock, common Marigold, a single Paeony, Blackberry, Apple, Fig, and the common Passion-flower. The figures of the Sunflower and single Hollyhock are really admirable pictures, representing the flowers of the natural size, the Sunflower being 8 inches across.
The rest of this article can be found in Gardeners Chronicle & New Horticulturist, 1890.
MILLER, JOHN, otherwise Johann Sebastian Muller (1715?-1790?), draughtsman and engraver, was born at Nuremberg about 1715, and studied there under J. C. Weigel and M. Tyroff.
In 1744 he came to England with his brother Tobias, an engraver of architecture, and he passed the remainder of his life in this country, chiefly practicing as an engraver. He signed his early works J. S. Muller or J. S. Miller, but after 1760 used the signature of John Miller.
Enjoy!
JOHN MILLER, AND HIS WORK.
WHEN writing the history of the Botanical Magazine, I alluded to this accomplished botanical artist (see Gardeners' Chronicle, third series, i., p. 451), and mentioned his work, Illustration of the Serial System of Linnaeus. This abbreviated title is hardly intelligible, standing alone, yet it is almost unnecessary in this place to add that the sexual systems of plants is intended. At the time I wrote, I had not seen the work, but a magnificent copy, or rather double copy, one coloured and one uncoloured, has lately been presented by the Bentham Trustees to the library of the Royal Gardens, Kew, and I dare say a few particulars of the man and his work may interest many persons who have not direct facilities for obtaining such information.
Johannes Sebastian Mueller was born at Nürnburg in 1715, and became an artist and engraver, An early inclination for botany led him to make his profession as an engraver subservient to the cultivation of his favourite science. At what date he came to England I have not ascertained, but, so far as I know, he did not begin publishing until 1759, though, as he himself states, he had laboured many years at the engravings.
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| © Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
Pulteney does not mention him, and Pritzel, the great botanical bibliographer, does not seem to have been aware that there was a coloured edition of the work in question; but he gives the price as twenty-one pounds. This work is a large folio, containing 108 plates, with explanatory letterpress opposite; and it was issued uncoloured, except the first four plates, or rather four separately numbered plates placed at the beginning, and representing the forms of leaves; and some copies were coloured, though probably only a few.
Of the good quality of the work there can be no difference of opinion, both as to the drawing and the accurate and careful colouring. Some of it is almost or quite equal to Ehret's work; some of it, on the other hand, was evidently not done from life, and is faulty in drawing and colouring. Linnaeus, to whom a copy had been sent, declared that the figures were prettier and more accurate than any that had been seen since the foundation of the world.
Here are his words:
Hamamelis virginica “Donum tuum operis immortalis charioris veniet pretio quam, ut id remunerare valeam. Figurae enim sunt et pulchriores et accuratiores quam ullae quas vidit mundus a condito orbe."
In several other letters the great Swedish botanist speaks most highly of the quality of Miller's work, and stated that he should be under everlasting obligation to the author for so magnificently illustrating his classification of plants. Without going so far as to say that Miller was unsurpassed, even by his contemporaries, it may safely be asserted that much of the work of the present day is far behind him, and he will always rank as a master.
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| Momordica charantia |
Each class and order is taken in its turn, and some of the plates are most elaborate productions, exhibiting an amount of detail that is truly surprising, both in the drawing of the plant itself, and the number of dissections. Although the object was to choose common plants, such comparatively little known subjects appear as Hamamelis virginica, Turnera ulmifolia, Petiveria alliacea, Galenia africana, Cassytha baccifera, Melianthus major, Pentapetes phoenicea, Hermannia alnifolia, and Momordica charantia.
Specially effective among commoner plants are the Sunflower, Hollyhock, common Marigold, a single Paeony, Blackberry, Apple, Fig, and the common Passion-flower. The figures of the Sunflower and single Hollyhock are really admirable pictures, representing the flowers of the natural size, the Sunflower being 8 inches across.
The rest of this article can be found in Gardeners Chronicle & New Horticulturist, 1890.
MILLER, JOHN, otherwise Johann Sebastian Muller (1715?-1790?), draughtsman and engraver, was born at Nuremberg about 1715, and studied there under J. C. Weigel and M. Tyroff.
In 1744 he came to England with his brother Tobias, an engraver of architecture, and he passed the remainder of his life in this country, chiefly practicing as an engraver. He signed his early works J. S. Muller or J. S. Miller, but after 1760 used the signature of John Miller.
In 1759 and 1760 he was living in Maiden Lane, Covent Garden; in 1777 in Dorset Court, near Parliament Street; and in 1789 at 10 Vauxhall Walk, Lambeth.
In the preface to his 'Illustration of the Sexual System' Muller speaks of his own early inclination to Botany,' and 'desire of rendering his Profession as an Engraver subservient to the Cultivation of his favourite Science;' but though most of his work is faithful to nature and artistically excellent, Philip Miller [q.v.], Dr. Gowan Knight [q. v.], and Lord Bute are probably largely responsible for its scientific supervision.
On 31 March 1759 he issued
Of this work, equal if not superior to the previously published ' Plantae et Papiliones' of Ehret, only ten folio plates were published, with the letter-press to the first eight, the plates bearing date between May 1759 and April 1760.
Richard Weston, in his 'Catalogue of English Authors on Agriculture' (1773), notes, under 1770, that Miller then published 'No. 1' of his 'System of Linnaeus explained ... To be compleated in 15 Numbers, one Guinea each. Each Number contains 4 plants coloured and 4 plain.'
John Ellis wrote to Linnaeus of this undertaking on 28 Dec. 1770,
The English title was 'An Illustration of the Sexual System of the Genera Plantarum of Linnaeus.' A list of eighty-two subscribers, taking about 125 copies, and including the name of David Garrick, is prefixed, and in the preface' are given four letters to the author from Linnaeus, in one of which he writes, 'Donum tuum operis immortalis chariori veniet fretio quam, ut id remunerare valeam. 'igurae enim sunt et pulchriores et accuratiores quam ullae quas vidit mundus a condito orbe.'
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
In Linnaeus's own copy of the work, now in the Linnean Society's library, in that in the King's library (36 i. 1-3), in the Banksian copy, at the Natural History Museum, and in that at Kew, formerly belonging to James Lee of the Vineyard, Hammersmith, some plates are proofs before letters.
In 1779 Miller published an octavo edition of the 'Illustration', with 107 uncoloured plates and a preface containing a letter of encouragement from the younger Linnaeus, and promising a second volume to exhibit specific characters.
This second volume was not issued until 1789, the delay being stated in the preface to be due to 'a particular engagement.' It is entitled 'An Illustration of the Termini Botanici of Linnaeus,' and contains eighty-six uncoloured plates.
New title pages for the folio edition and the first volume of the octavo edition of the 'Illustration' seem to have been issued subsequently, copies at the Natural History Museum bearing the imprint, 'Printed for Robert Faulder, New Bond Street, 1794.'
The ' Illustration' was published in German in folio by Konrad Felsing, Darmstadt, 1792, and at Frankfurt-on-Maine, 1804, both coloured; the octavo edition, by Dr. F. G. Weiss, at Frankfurt in 1789, with the plates of the first volume, re-engraved by Charles Goepfert and coloured, in a separate volume, entitled 'Johannis Milleri Tabulae Iconum centum quatuor plantarum ad illustrationem systematis sexualis Linnaeani.'
Meanwhile Miller attempted another ambitious work dealing with new plants.
Of this seven folio plates, dated 1780, were published, with a half-sheet of letter-press, but no title. In the botanical department of the Natural History Museum are five volumes, including in all 1072 original coloured drawings, with the manuscript title, 'Drawings of the Leaves, Stalks, and Ramifications of Plants for the purpose of ascertaining their several Species, executed for the Rt. Hon'ble, the Earl of Bute, for the years 1783 and 1784, by John Miller, Author of the Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus.'
These drawings were not utilized in Lord Bute's great work, 'Botanical Tables' (1785) ; but all the plates in the nine volumes of that work are also signed by Miller.
Miller engraved numerous plates other than botanic from his own designs; they are somewhat feeble in drawing and treatment, but his plates from compositions by good masters have much merit. ...
... Furthermore he painted landscapes, which, as well as some of his engravings, he exhibited with the Society of Arts and at the Royal Academy from 1762 to 1788. Though the date of his death is unknown, it was probably soon after 1789, and almost certainly before 1794.
Miller engraved his own portrait with that of Linnaeus on the frontispiece of his 'Illustration of the Sexual System,' 1777.
He was twice married, and had in all twenty-seven children, two of his sons, John Frederick and James Miiller or Miller, becoming known as draughtsmen, and as frequent exhibitors of topographical views at the Society of Artists.
The former accompanied Sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Solander to Ireland in 1772 as a draughtsman, and published in numbers in 1785 ' Various Subjects of Natural History wherein are delineated Birds, Animals, and many curious Plants: with the parts of fructification of each plant, all of which are drawn and coloured from Nature,' London, imp. fol.
[Naglor'sKiinstler-Lexikon; Mason's Memoirs of Gray, 1814, i. 335; Dortd's manuscript Hist, of English Engravers (Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 38403); Universal Catalogue of Books on Art; Catalogues of the Society of Artists: Bryan's Diet, of Painters and Engravers; Miller's own works.] F. M. O'D.—G. S. B.
In the preface to his 'Illustration of the Sexual System' Muller speaks of his own early inclination to Botany,' and 'desire of rendering his Profession as an Engraver subservient to the Cultivation of his favourite Science;' but though most of his work is faithful to nature and artistically excellent, Philip Miller [q.v.], Dr. Gowan Knight [q. v.], and Lord Bute are probably largely responsible for its scientific supervision.
On 31 March 1759 he issued
"Proposals for publishing one hundred prints, exhibiting a curious Collection of Plants and Insects by John Miller . . . Each Print will contain a Plant coloured from Nature, with the peculiar Insects which feed on [it] . . . The Plants will be classed under their proper Genera, according to the Botanick System of Mr. Miller of Chelsea (who has generously offered his kind assistance). . . . The Insects will be ranged as by Dr. Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae . . . This work will be published in Fifty Numbers, one. . . every Month. Each Number will contain Two. . . plates, with a half-sheet of letter-press,. . .Price Five Shillings. The first number on 10 May. . .If the Proprietor meets with Encouragement ... he proposes to go through the whole Animal Creation according to the System adapted by Dr. Linnaeus."
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| for more info: Cincinnati History Library and Archives |
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| 1777 |
Richard Weston, in his 'Catalogue of English Authors on Agriculture' (1773), notes, under 1770, that Miller then published 'No. 1' of his 'System of Linnaeus explained ... To be compleated in 15 Numbers, one Guinea each. Each Number contains 4 plants coloured and 4 plain.'
John Ellis wrote to Linnaeus of this undertaking on 28 Dec. 1770,
"There is a valuable work now carrying on upon your system by Mr. John Miller, a German painter and engraver, under the direction of Dr. Gowan Knight, of the British Museum. This will make your system of botany familiar to the ladies, being in English as well as Latin. The figures are well drawn, and very systematically dissected and described. I have desired that he may send to your ambassador for you the two first numbers to know your opinion of it, and if you approve you may get him subscriptions" {Correspondence of Linnceus, i. 255).The plates are dated from 1771 to 1776, and in 1777 the work was issued complete in three volumes folio, containing 108 coloured plates, 104 uncoloured, and 109 sheets of letter-press in Latin and English, 'published and sold by the author.'
The English title was 'An Illustration of the Sexual System of the Genera Plantarum of Linnaeus.' A list of eighty-two subscribers, taking about 125 copies, and including the name of David Garrick, is prefixed, and in the preface' are given four letters to the author from Linnaeus, in one of which he writes, 'Donum tuum operis immortalis chariori veniet fretio quam, ut id remunerare valeam. 'igurae enim sunt et pulchriores et accuratiores quam ullae quas vidit mundus a condito orbe.'
In Linnaeus's own copy of the work, now in the Linnean Society's library, in that in the King's library (36 i. 1-3), in the Banksian copy, at the Natural History Museum, and in that at Kew, formerly belonging to James Lee of the Vineyard, Hammersmith, some plates are proofs before letters.
In 1779 Miller published an octavo edition of the 'Illustration', with 107 uncoloured plates and a preface containing a letter of encouragement from the younger Linnaeus, and promising a second volume to exhibit specific characters.
This second volume was not issued until 1789, the delay being stated in the preface to be due to 'a particular engagement.' It is entitled 'An Illustration of the Termini Botanici of Linnaeus,' and contains eighty-six uncoloured plates.
New title pages for the folio edition and the first volume of the octavo edition of the 'Illustration' seem to have been issued subsequently, copies at the Natural History Museum bearing the imprint, 'Printed for Robert Faulder, New Bond Street, 1794.'
The ' Illustration' was published in German in folio by Konrad Felsing, Darmstadt, 1792, and at Frankfurt-on-Maine, 1804, both coloured; the octavo edition, by Dr. F. G. Weiss, at Frankfurt in 1789, with the plates of the first volume, re-engraved by Charles Goepfert and coloured, in a separate volume, entitled 'Johannis Milleri Tabulae Iconum centum quatuor plantarum ad illustrationem systematis sexualis Linnaeani.'
Meanwhile Miller attempted another ambitious work dealing with new plants.
Of this seven folio plates, dated 1780, were published, with a half-sheet of letter-press, but no title. In the botanical department of the Natural History Museum are five volumes, including in all 1072 original coloured drawings, with the manuscript title, 'Drawings of the Leaves, Stalks, and Ramifications of Plants for the purpose of ascertaining their several Species, executed for the Rt. Hon'ble, the Earl of Bute, for the years 1783 and 1784, by John Miller, Author of the Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus.'
These drawings were not utilized in Lord Bute's great work, 'Botanical Tables' (1785) ; but all the plates in the nine volumes of that work are also signed by Miller.
Miller engraved numerous plates other than botanic from his own designs; they are somewhat feeble in drawing and treatment, but his plates from compositions by good masters have much merit. ...
... Furthermore he painted landscapes, which, as well as some of his engravings, he exhibited with the Society of Arts and at the Royal Academy from 1762 to 1788. Though the date of his death is unknown, it was probably soon after 1789, and almost certainly before 1794.
Miller engraved his own portrait with that of Linnaeus on the frontispiece of his 'Illustration of the Sexual System,' 1777.
He was twice married, and had in all twenty-seven children, two of his sons, John Frederick and James Miiller or Miller, becoming known as draughtsmen, and as frequent exhibitors of topographical views at the Society of Artists.
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| Miller's son's work |
[Naglor'sKiinstler-Lexikon; Mason's Memoirs of Gray, 1814, i. 335; Dortd's manuscript Hist, of English Engravers (Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 38403); Universal Catalogue of Books on Art; Catalogues of the Society of Artists: Bryan's Diet, of Painters and Engravers; Miller's own works.] F. M. O'D.—G. S. B.
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