Florilegium of Mary Somerset - Exhibition

On August 1st we will open a month-long exhibition, Florilegium, in the Herbarium Room. This will feature prints of plates from the Florilegium of Mary Somerset, 1st Duchess of Beaufort (1630-1715) recently digitised by the Bodleian Library.

Mary Somerset was the subject of PhD student, India Cole’s thesis (co-supervised by Director, Simon Hiscock) and India is producing the narrative text for the exhibition, which she is co-curating with Pia Ostlund, with oversight by the Director. The exhibition will also refer to, and feature, images from the Duchess’s Herbarium (housed as part of the Sloane Herbaria at the Natural History Museum).

Both the Florilegium and Herbarium formed chapters in India’s thesis and reference will also be made to the Duchess’s collaboration with Jacob Bobart the Younger (the second Keeper of the Oxford Physic Garden). There will be an exclusive launch event on July 31st at which the present Duke and Duchess of Beaufort will be guests of honour. 

Visitors will be able to see the exhibition for free within the price of their entry to the Botanic Garden.