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Franz Andreas Bauer (Later Francis), an Austrian botanical illustrator was born March 14, 1758 in Feldsberg (now Valtice, Czech Republic) and died December 11, 1840 in Kew, England. He was the son of Lucas Bauer, († 1761), court painter to the prince of Liechtenstein, and brother of the painters Josef Anton and Ferdinand Bauer. While employed by Count Dietrichstein as flower painter in Vienna, he illustrated works by the Baron Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin and his son Baron Josef Franz Jacquin, whom he accompanied 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 Kew Botanical Garden and Museum. He stayed there for the rest of his life, producing a wealth of superb botanical and anatomical illustrations, became member of the Royal Society and was appointed painter to the Royal Court.

Delineations of Exotick Plants cultivated in the Royal Garden at Kew. Drawn and coloured and the Botanical characters displayed according to the Linnean System by Francis Bauer. Published by William Aiton, d.c. (Preface by Sir Joseph Banks.) 1796-83

John Lindley. The genera and species of orchideous plants , illustrated by drawings on stone from the sketches of Francis Bauer. London, Ridgways and Treuttel, Wurtz, 1830-1838.

Hooker, W.J. Genera filicum; or Illustrations of the ferns, and other allied genera; from the original coloured drawings of the late Francis Bauer; with additions and descriptive letterpress, by Sir William Jackson Hooker. London, H. G. Bohn, 1842.

Stewart, Joyce and William T. Stearn. The orchid paintings of Franz Bauer. Timber Press,. Portland, Or. 1993 Reinikka, Merle A. A History of the Orchid. Timber Press,. Portland, Or. 1995

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