There are artistic impressions of plants in every culture and throughout time; the sacred lotus and papyrus of Egyptian tomb paintings, the trees and orchards of the illustrated Persian paradise gardens and the acanthus, vine and grape so common in Greek and Roman architectural decoration. Plants have also been highly revered; mrryh and pepper have each been considered the most expensive of gifts during certain periods of time and many fortunes have been won and lost in the trade of plants! Plants have changed history – cotton led to the slave trade and the industrial revolution ,while the search for spices and exotic plants led to discovery of new lands and the development of new technology on the seas. Even discovering the fact that seeds can be stored for long periods and yet will still grow when planted, led to the first establishment of agriculture as a concept.

Plants have inspired and impressed people everywhere and have often provided symbols for such things as beauty, peace, humility and honesty. Artistically they have been represented in many forms – in paintings, architecture, embroideries, books and on tiles to name but a few. Exploring just a few such extraordinary artistic masterpieces held within Europe allows us to understand the true nature of the integration of masterpiece and plant - art and science - and enables the beauty, utility and significance of the plants to shine through.