Flore Médicale Journal — Turpin 1814 Oxalide & Violette Botanical Plates

In 1814, as Napoleon’s empire was drawing to a close, a group of French botanists and artists produced one of the most beautiful works of scientific illustration of the nineteenth century. The Flore médicale, written by François-Pierre Chaumeton and Jean Louis Marie Poiret, documented the medicinal plants of France with a precision and artistry that has never been surpassed. Its illustrator, Pierre Jean François Turpin (1775–1840), understood that the best botanical illustration is not a diagram but a portrait — an attempt to capture the essential character of a living organism.

Both covers reproduce two of Turpin’s most exquisite plates from the 1814 edition. The front cover features Plate 261 — Oxalide (Oxalis acetosella, wood sorrel): delicate trifoliate leaves, small flowers, root system, and anatomical cross-sections rendered with the precision of a scientist and the eye of an artist. The back cover showcases Plate 348 — Violette (Viola odorata, sweet violet): heart-shaped leaves, distinctive purple blooms, and the complete plant anatomy — Napoleon’s personal emblem, the flower his supporters wore as a secret sign of loyalty during the Hundred Days.

Product Details

• Format: Hardcover journal
• Pages: 150 lined pages (75 sheets) with perforations for easy removal
• Binding: Casewrap sewn binding — flexible and lay-flat
• Dimensions: 5.75 × 8 inches
• Weight: 100 g
• Cover: Matte laminated full-wrap print

Perfect For

• Botanical art enthusiasts and collectors of French natural history illustration
• Garden keepers and herbalists who appreciate the medicinal plant tradition
• Lovers of Napoleonic-era French science and publishing
• Nature writers and botanical sketchers looking for a journal with depth
• Anyone drawn to the intersection of scientific rigour and artistic beauty
• A thoughtful gift for those who love clovers, violets, and the history of plants

To learn more about Turpin and the Flore médicale, read Flore Médicale 1814 on New Old Time.