History: The Wider Roscoe Family

Margaret Roscoe, Botanical Artist

(Mrs. Edward Roscoe) [née Margaret Lace]  (1786 – 1840)

Margaret Roscoe was only one of the several capable and talented members of the Roscoe family.

She married Edward Roscoe, (1785- 1834), son of William Roscoe, in 1810, becoming the Aunt by marriage of Frank Roscoe of Ross Bay Villa. She was also the mother of the poet and novelist Margaret Sandbach (1812-1852).

Margaret Roscoe was an accomplished botanical artist. She illustrated the book “Monandrian Plants of the Order Scitamae” (1824-1829) written by her father-in-law William Roscoe.

At left: Alpinia nutans. [1828]. Illustration by Margaret Roscoe. Lithograph, hand col. ; 54 x 42 cm. Published in William Roscoe, “Monandrian Plants of the Order Scitamineae: Chiefly Drawn from Living Specimens in the Botanical Gardens at Liverpool”, pl. 73. [With text]. Botanical illustration of a member of the ginger (Zingiberaceae) family. Courtesy Rare Book Collection, University of Hawaii.

She continued with her own major work, the book “Floral Illustrations of the Seasons” (1829), which was engraved by master acquatintist Robert Havell. Margaret explained her premise behind the book:

“There is no pursuit which fills the mind with more noble and exalted sentiments than the study of these works of Nature. To her own sex, to whose particular notice she offers it, she trusts it may prove a useful and correct guide to their tastes, both in their selection for a flower garden, and as objects for their pencil.”

The book contains 55 full-page illustrations, some hand coloured, and some partially printed in colour. The book itself “Consisting of The Most Beautiful, Hardy and Rare Herbaceous Plants, Cultivated in the Flower Garden” and the coloured plates are all extremely collectable.

The illustrations below are from Margaret’s book “Floral Illustrations of the Seasons” (1829)

It is interesting to note that she has included two flowers – the Broad leafed Penstemon; and the California Poppy – both from the west coast of North America. These examples would have been among the earliest flowers collected on the west coast to be grown in English gardens.

Top Row:
Left: Penstemon Ovatus (Broad Leaved Penstemon) native: Pacific Northwest.
Right: Erithonium Dens Canis (European Dog Tooth Violet) native: central & south Europe; Portugal to Ukraine.

Middle Row:
Left: Gentiana Verna (Spring Gentian) native: Ireland; U.K.; Austria; Switzerland.
Right: Scilla Bifolia (Alpine Squill) native: Europe; western Russia; Turkey; Syria.

Bottom Row:
Left: Paeonia Tenaifolia (Fern Leaf Peony) native: SE Europe; Turkey.
Right: Eschscholtria Californica (California Poppy) native: California; Mexico.