Bauer, Franz (Francis) Andreas (1758-1840)

Born March 14, 1758, died December 11, 1840

He was an Austrian microscopist and botanical artist. Brother of Ferdinand Bauer. Illustrated work for various scientists and some monographs including his own, Illustrations of Orchidaceous Plants by Francis Bauer (1830-1838) and W.J.Hooker, Genera Filicum (1842).

Born in Feldsberg, Moravia (now Valtice, Czech Republic), he was the son of Lucas Bauer (died 1761), court painter to the Prince of Liechtenstein, and brother of the painters Josef Anton (1756–1830) and Ferdinand Bauer (1760–1826). After Lucas Bauer's death, his wife, Therese continued to give her three sons lessons in art and illustration. Josef succeeded his father as court painter and eventually became keeper of the gallery in Vienna.

Franz and Ferdinand acquired their first experience of botanical illustration with the arrival of Father Norbert Boccius, Abbot of Feldsberg, in 1763, and produced over 2000 watercolour drawings of plant specimens under his guidance. They were then employed by Count Dietrichstein as flower painters in Vienna - Franz illustrated works by the Baron Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin and his son Baron Joseph Franz von Jacquin at the Schönbrunn Imperial Gardens; Franz then accompanied the latter to London. There Jacquin the younger introduced him to Sir Joseph Banks, who, recognizing his extraordinary talent, secured him a position as first botanical illustrator at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Museum, at an annual salary of £300. He stayed there for the rest of his life, producing a wealth of superb botanical and anatomical illustrations, became a member of the Royal Society and was appointed 'Botanick Painter to His Majesty' King George III.

Example artwork: Caleana major

References: M.Rix The Art of the Plant World (1981); L.deBray The Art of Botanical Illustration (1989); J.Stewart & W.T.Stearn The Orchid paintings of Franz Bauer (1993); W.Blunt & W.T.Stearn The Art of Botanical Illustration 2^nd edn (1994); W.T.Stearn Flower Artists of Kew (1997); D.Scrase Flower Drawings (1997); C.Mills Images from Nature (1998); H.Hewson Australia - 300 Years of Botanical Illustration (1999); http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Bauer
Portrait: ex Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, via Wikipedia