Flower pictures from a couple centuries back. English. Robert John Thornton, botanist. Living from 1768 to 1837 he started out to be a physician but ended up publishing books about plants.

"Tulips." 1807.
“Tulips.” 1807. Plate from Thornton’s book ““The Temple of Flora.” Image source: Missouri Botanical Garden via Biodiversity Heritage Library. In the public domain. via https://publicdomainreview.org/product/tulips/
"A Group of Auriculas." 1799-1810.
“A Group of Auriculas.” 1799-1810. Image © 2019 Arader Galleries. Fair use license. via https://aradergalleries.com/products/robert-john-thornton-1768-1837-a-group-of-auriculas
Plate from "Temple Of Flora." 1811.
Plate from “Temple Of Flora.” 1811. Image © Aspire Auctions. Fair use license via https://www.aspireauctions.com/#!/catalog/307/1249/lot/41323
"The Blue Egyptian Water Lily."
“The Blue Egyptian Water Lily.” Plate from “Temple of Flora.” 1804. Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. In the public domain. via https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/395106

 

Tulips. 1798. Plate from Doctor Robert John Thornton’s The Temple of Flora.
Color aquatint, mezzotint, and stipple engraving with hand-coloring on wove paper. Image © Bonhams 2001-2022. Fair use license. via https://www.bonhams.com/auction/28116/lot/70/dr-robert-john-thornton-publisher-circa-1768-1837-tulips-from-the-temple-of-flora/

A Group of Carnations. 1803. Plate from Doctor Robert John Thornton’s The Temple of Flora.
Color aquatint, mezzotint, and stipple engraving with hand-coloring on wove paper. Image © Bonhams 2001-2022. Fair use license. via https://www.bonhams.com/auction/28116/lot/71/dr-robert-john-thornton-publisher-circa-1768-1837-a-group-of-carnations-from-the-temple-of-flora/