Friends of Monserrate

The Friends of Monserrate have a new website. You can find it here

Amigos de Monserrate / Friends of Monserrate

Tigridia pavonia

Curtis Botanical magazine

Vol. 15 (1801)

[532]

Ferraria Tigridia. Mexican Ferraria, or Tiger-flower.
Class and Order.
MONADELPHIA TRIANDRIA.
Generic Character.
Spatha 2-phylla. Cal. o. Petala 6. 3-externis latioribus. Stylus 1. Caps. 3-loculari infera.
Specific Characler and Synonyms.
FERRARIA Tigridia ; foliis plicatis, corollis lato-urceolatis:
laciniis interioribus depresso-intersectis.
FERRARIA pavonia : caule simplici flexuoso, foliis equi-
tantibus ensiformibus nervosis, petalis planis :
interioribus duplo brevioribus panduriformibus.
Spec. PI. edit, Willdenow, v. 3. p. 581.
FERRARIA pavonia. Linn. Suppl. 407. Cav. Diff. p. 343.
t. 189. Larmarck Encyclop. v. 2. p. 453. 2.
TIGRIDIA Juffieu. Gen. p. 57.
MORAEA pavonia. Thunb. Monea 14, 20.
OCOLOXOCHITL seu flore tigris. Hern. nov. PI. Amer.
Hist. tab. 276. Gerard, emac. 122. 2. Encyc lop. Brit. t. 350.
TIGRIDIS flos an Dracunculi species? Lob. Obs. 59. Icon.
111. Dod. pempt. 3. p. 421. Swertii Floril. 2.
t. 31. fig. 2. J. Bauh. 2. p. 684. Raii Hist.
1165. J. Theod. de Bryt, Florileg. nov. t. 111.


Of all the above authors, no one had seen the living plant except Hernandez, who was sent to Mexico as a Physician, by Philip II. King of Spain; and his figure, though only a small wooden cut, is more botanically correct than any of the others, not excepting that of Cavanilles, We are informed by him that it grew wild about Mexico, and was much cultivated for its excessive beauty and for the medicinal virtues of its root; being, as he terms it, " a frigefacient in fevers, and " also a promoter of fecundity in women." Both Hernandez and M. De Brancion, from whom Lobel derived his knowledge of the plant, observe that the root is esculent. All the other old authors appear to have borrowed what they have said from these two sources, except perhaps De Bry, who says he received it (probably meaning the drawing) from Caspar Bauhin. The author of this figure, though it was published before the Rome edition of the Mexican history, appears to have had access to the drawing of Hernandez, as the form of the flower is the same, only four roots are crowded together. The more modern authors seem to have made their descriptions and figures from no other authority except a dried specimen in the possession of Jussieu. That of Mutis, cited by the younger Linnaeus, we have not seen, and has not, we believe, been as yet published.
For the possession of this superb flower, this country, and perhaps Europe, is indebted to Ellis Hodgson, Esq. of Everton, near Liverpool, with whom it flowered and produced ripe seeds about five years ago. From this gentleman, seeds were communicated to Messrs. Grimwood and Wykes, and by them it has been dispersed among other Nurserymen. There is little fear but that it will soon become very common, as it flowers freely, produces seeds in abundance, and maybe likewise increased by offsets from the roots. It has no scent, but in splendid beauty it appears to us, at least when assifted by rarity and singularity, to surpass every competitor; we lament that this too affords our fair countrywomen another lesson, how extremely fugacious is this loveliness of form; born to display its' glory but for a few hours, it literally melts away.
By the alteration made by Willdenow in the generic character of Ferraria, this may be included; but the trivial name pavonia, injudiciously adopted from a supposed resemblance to the Iris pavonia, figured by Jacquin (not the Iris pavonia of the Botanical Magazine) is totally inadmissible, the colours being in no respect similar to those of the peacock ; we have, therefore, as nearly as could be done in one word, restored the original name. We have an additional motive to do so from the confederation, that should it be hereafter thought necessary to make it a distinct genus from Ferraria, the name of Tigridia, already applied by Jussieu, would undoubtedly be given it.
Disc. Root, a tunicated bulb, producing from one to four stems about a foot and half high, somewhat flexuose, round, jointed, smooth, bearing at each joint a plicated oblong-lanceolate leaf from a sheathing petiole the length of the internode, and at the summit an involucrum, apparently confiding of two lanceolate, ancipital, conduplicate, nearly equal valves, of which the exterior is in fact the common spathe or involucre, and embraces the interior with its contents ; the interior valve, which is exactly opposed to the outer one, is the proper spathe of the first flower and embraces it, together with the spathes and flowers that are to come in succession ; the spathe of the second flower is opposed to that of the first, and placed between it and the pedicel of the first flower; and so of the rest, every spathe being opposed to the one of the preceding flower and embraced by it. These spathes are similar in shape, but diminish progressively and become more membranaceous. Corolla, broad-urceolate (but this could not be expressed by the drawing in a front-view of the flower) divided into six segments, of which the three outer are urceolate at the base, expanded above, and reflected at the point; the three inner ones smaller by half, biformed, singularly divided into a lower hastate and an upper ovate division by a depressed intersection ; the upper division is of the richest scarlet imaginable, variegated by a bright golden yellow. Filament, a cuniculated or piped triquetral column. Anthers, sessile, erect, bearing their pollen on the outside, conniving at the point, diverging below to admit the exit of the stigmas. Germen, obtusely trigonal, three-celled. Style, the length of the filamental column, through the hollow of which it pafles. Stigmas, three, filiform, bifid. Capsule, oblong, obtufely trigonal, three-celled. Seeds, in double rows in each cell and round.
It is a native of Mexico and Peru, is properly a greenhouse plant, and succeeds best in light mould, seedlings will flower the second year. It is best to take up the bulbs the latter end of September or October, and to keep them out of the ground till the Spring*.
* In every part of this paper, we have been very much assisted by the liberal communications of John Bellendin Gawler, Esq.

Tigridia pavonia (L.f.) DC. in P.J.Redouté, Liliac. 1: t. 6 (1802).

Mexico to El Salvador

Iridaceae

General Robert Craufurd

Major-General Robert Craufurd (5 May 1764 – 23 January 1812) arrived in Lisbon just a few days before Lord Byron in 1809. On 10th July Byron and Hobhouse watch the General commanding his troops in a military parade.

Cintra Pinturesca: Monserate 1838

[p.79]

Descendo do alto de Penha-verde deixamos á esquerda huma fonte antiga , e logo mais adiante a estrada fórma hum estreito por cujo motivo pozerão os Arabes ao sitio o nome de Gibraltar , e a poucos passos se biparte a estrada. Seguindo-se a da direita se vai dar á ribeira de Gallamares (de que fallaremos quando tratarmos de villa de Collares) em cuja proximidade está a quinta de S. Bento , e as ruinas de huma antiga casa acastellada , que ainda conserva duas torres , pertencente á casa dos Condes de Soure. Continuando a mesma estrada que tinhamos seguido , esta logo adiante se reparte em tres caminhos. A' direita fica o que conduz ás ruinas e quinta de Monserate; o centro he a estrada real de Collares , a qual por baixo de huma continuada sombra de arvoredo , tendo passado pela quinta da Bellavista, pertencente á casa de Cadaval, a da Agua Ferrea , e sitio da Ugaria, nos leva áquella aprazivel e viçosa villa : á esquerda, subindo para o centro da serra em direcção ao Oeste , vamos ter ao convento de Santa Cruz da Serra.

Logo adiante da quinta de Penha-verde fica o sitio de Monserate , assim chamado , de huma Ermida da invocação de Nossa Senhora de Monserate , que no anno de 1540 edificou hum Clerigo chamado Gaspar Preto mandando de Roma vir a imagem de alabastro, da Senhora.

Aqui em hum pequeno monte despegado , que se avança como atalaya do resto das ondulações da Serra , estão as ruinas de huma casa de campo , imitando hum castello antigo. Foi edificada esta casa por hum Inglez chamado Bekfort , inda ha poucos annos , de sorte que por vicio de construccão e não pela sua muita antiguidade está em ruinas. Qual flor requeimada por vento pestifero na viçosa idade da sua vegetação, ainda nestas estragadas ruinas sobresahe a formosura e brilho do seu tempo de gloria. [p.80] Huma bella lameda de arvores nos conduz á casa cercada de huma gradaria de ferro de tres pés de altura, cingindo-lhe as paredes cedros qne sombreando-a , lhe não roubão (pela boa disposição em que estão collocados) os lindos pontos de optica que disfructa , tanto para o lado da serra de que he dominada, como para a parte do mar e valle de Collares. A primeira torre era destinada para os quartos de cama, seguindo-se em baixo casa de jantar etc.; a outra torre consistia em huma bella salla de Musica deforma redonda , cornmunicando com outras , tudo no melhor gosto e distribuição. Tinha a casa duas entradas principaes , que se dirigiào a hum vestibulo em octagono, que partia para os differentes ramos do edificio.

Os aposentos para os creados , cocheira , e cavalharices , formão outro corpo de edificio ao lado do caminho que conduz á casa. Os apriscos , abegoaria , e casa de caseiro são feitas com igual esmero de gosto , buscando a arte meios de embellezamento na sua simples e rustica architectura. Consistia a quinta de hum bello bosque de antigos carvalhos que vinhão terminar junto á casa em hum pomar de larangeiras e tangerinas. Na encosta sobranceira ao valle onde está assentado este pomar se vê huma cascata de enormes calháos que para alli forão conduzidos expressamente , esforçando-se por este modo com tanto trabalho o artificio humano em imitar a simplicidade das bellezas da natureza, [p.81] sempre magestosa e bella nas obras da sua creação , toma esta repreza as aguas que no inverno, e principios da primavera descem do alto da serra, e formão uma cataracta que se despenha por um leito pedregoso, que forma a parte mais baixa do valle desta mata.

Tal he o sitio encantador de Monserrate! Se quereis embriagar a vossa alma de uma agradavel melancolia , vinde passar alguns momentos a estas ruinas, ou quando o sol rompendo por entre as nevoas que coroão os alcantilados montes faz chorar as arvores lagrimas crystalinas , saudosas dos mysterios da noite , ou quando mergulhando-se no Occeano traz essa hora do crepusculo doces meditações.

Evós , damas , acudi tambem ; não receeis genios malfazejos , nem vos assustem as suas torres e recortadas ameias, que esta estancia foi desde o seu principio destinada a prazeres. Lamentai com tudo que esta salla animada outra-ora pela suave melodia da musica , seja agora muda e silenciosa , que esse pavimento sobre o qual se deitão hoje essas ovelhas que vos não excedem em candura, não seja ao de leve roçado pelos vossos pés mimosos, que esse chão cuberto de pedras que desabão do arruinado tecto, não seja forrado de aveludado tapete. Pedi porém que alguma mão bemfeitora restitua esta casa á sua primeira instituição, isto he, a povôe de novos folgares, ou antes pedi que a mão do homem , mais destruidora que o tempo , não derrube [p. 82] esse resto de arvores que escaparão aos sacrilegos golpes do machado, não nivelle com a terra esses mesmos fragmentos do edificio que ainda hoje formão o encanto destes sitios.

Portugal and Gallicia, with a review of the social and political state of the Basque provinces

Portugal and Gallicia, with a review of the social and political state of the Basque provinces
Henry John G. Herbert (3rd earl of Carnarvon.)

1836

pp. 18 - 19

We rode on to Montserrat, the remains of a villa, built by Mr. Beckford many years ago. The ruinous state of that fairy dwelling was noticed by Lord Byron in 1809, and since that time it has become still more desolate. The roof, then entire, has since very much fallen in, and the walls are in many parts a heap of ruins. The entrance opens into an octagonal hall, terminated by a circular apartment, which looks over a lengthened flat to the distant breakers. There is also the shell remaining of a fine apartment, perhaps the library, which commands as rich a view of forest scenery as can well be conceived. The general effect of the exterior is good, except the high slanting roofs, which, though in correct taste, are somewhat unpleasing. Further on we saw the ruins of a rambling house, to which a dark story is attached; for a young man is there said to have murdered his elder brother under circumstances of peculiar horror.

Sir John Charles Robinson (1824-1913)

Sir John Charles Robinson fromThe Times, 11 April 1913
We regret to announce that Sir John Charles Robinson, CB, FSA, died yesterday at his residence, Newton Manor, Swanage. He had reached the great age of 88, having been born in Nottingham in December 1824, but until very recently he was as active as ever in the interest which he displayed in questions concerning the art of the past and in those antiquarian subjects to which he had devoted the greater part of his long life.

He was trained in Paris as an artist and on his return he exhibited more than once at the Royal Academy; but it was rather as an organizer, teacher and collector that he made his mark. For some five years he was headmaster of the Art School at Hanley and his influence soon made itself felt in Mintons and other porcelain factories. He was one of the young men who took up with great zeal that movement inaugurated by Prince Albert, about the time of the first Great Exhibitions, for establishing a general system of art education in England and when the South Kensington Museum was founded in 1852 he was made first superintendent of the art collections. This post he held for 17 years and it is to him more than anyone that the provincial museums owe the system of circulating works of art and ancient craftsmanship from the national stores. More than this, Mr Robinson, who had a natural flair for works of art of every description and who was alive to the beauty of the then neglected productions of the Italian Renaissance, spent many seasons in travelling for the Museum in Italy and Spain. With the small funds at his disposal he was able to acquire at what we should now consider a paltry price a vast number of those works in marble, bronze, majolica and terracotta which quickly gave South Kensington a unique position among the museums of Europe. Mr Robinson found it possible, with the expenditure of a few thousands or even hundreds of pounds annually, to lay up a store for the nation such as is now unattainable at any price; a store which, if we could image it coming into the market today, would realize 50 or 100 times what he gave for it. He, for example, influenced Mr Gladstone and obtained a grant for the purchase of the best objects in the Gigli-Campana collection. Unfortunately he came in the end to disagree with some of the chiefs of the Museum, the grounds of the dispute being such as it is quite unnecessary to enter upon here, and in 1869 he resigned his connection with the Museum, retiring with a pension.
Three years before, in conjunction with the celebrated Italian diplomatist and writer, the Marquis D'Azeglio and a few other friends, he founded the Fine Arts Club which afterwards developed into the Burlington and for many years acted as it honorary secretary. Into this little club were gathered the principal connoisseurs and collectors of the day such as Mr C S Bale, Sir William Drake, Mr Mitchell, Mr Malcolm of Poltalloch and others; and through his association with them Mr Robinson rapidly obtained an important position as the advisor of those who wished to acquire fine collections. His principal achievements in this way were on behalf of Mr Malcolm, many of whose splendid ancient drawings, now in the British Museum, had been bought by Mr Robinson at the Woodburn and other sales; and the late Sir Francis Cook of Richmond, whose well-known collection of old pictures was brought together under the same advice. It is noteworthy that this collection is especially strong in Spanish pictures and that Mr Robinson stood at that time almost alone among English connoisseurs as a frequent traveller to Spain for art purposes. As time went on he bought a good deal for himself and at one time was the owner of an important collection of Spanish, Italian and Dutch pictures, of Italian marbles, medals and bronzes and of drawings by old masters. He was also active, long after his official connection with the public museums had ceased, in organizing funds for the purchase of works of art for the nation. The chief instance of this was at the time of the famous Fountaine sale (1884) when he, by letter to 'The Times' and in other ways, stirred up public opinion in favour of acquiring some of that matchless store of majolica, Limoges enamels and Palissy ware, and at the time of the sale he was in command of a considerable sum of money for this purpose which he expended very judiciously.
In 1882 Mr Robinson once more entered the service of the Crown, being in that year appointed Surveyor of the Queen's pictures; a post which he held for nearly 20 years till the death of Queen Victoria. But whether the fault lay with the Queen herself, who did not like changes and alterations in the Royal possessions, or whether Mr Robinson wanted energy in this matter, it cannot be said that anything was done during this period to put the pictures in order or to make the collections more popular. That was reserved for the next reign and for the next Surveyor, Mr Lionel Cust. In regard to modern art Mr Robinson, who was himself an etcher of ability, was instrumental with his friend Sir F Seymour Haden, in founding the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers of which he became an honorary member. He was in high favour with the Empress Frederick and gave her valuable help in forming the rather remarkable collection which she and her husband brought together at Cronberg. Many other crowned heads appreciated Mr Robinson's services. At home he was made a Knight in 1887, a CB in 1901 and he was the holder of high orders from the Sovereigns of Belgium, Spain and Portugal.His publications were very numerous and include several of the official catalogues issued by South Kensington, the descriptive catalogue of the Raphael and Michael Angelo drawings at Oxford, several private catalogues and a multitude of articles in the magazines and art periodicals, together with many letters to the 'The Times'. The articles and letters were often either directly controversial or provocative of controversy, for it must be admitted that Sir J C Robinson had a way of maintaining his own sometimes paradoxical opinions about various works of art in a manner which did not always approve itself to other connoisseurs. Still, though one may disagree with him on many questions of connoisseurship, it cannot be denied that in the middle of the last century he did a really great public service and that our unrivalled collections at South Kensington could never have been what they are had the Museum not been served by a man so energetic, shrewd and clever as he was.He married, in 1852, the daughter of Alderman Newton of Norwich; this lady died recently. One of his sons is Mr Charles Newton Robinson and another is Mr Gerald Robinson, the mezzotint engraver. For many years he lived in Harley Street, but moved some years ago to the beautiful old house at Swanage where he died.

Saccolabium blumei majus

Picture towns of Europe

One of the chief charms of Cintra consists in the innumerable beautiful walks and drives that bring fresh interest to each day spent there. Most popular of these is the drive of a few miles to the gardens of Monserrate, that are said to be unequaled in the world. Nowhere but in the unique climate of Portugal can grow in perfection the plants and trees of the tropics and of the temperate zone as well, so in the century since Beckford ransacked the world to find specimens for these gardens, which he laid out at fabulous cost, the trees and vines, and shrubs and flowers he planted there have developed into wonderful beauty. The property is now owned by the estate of Sir Frederick Cook, who spares no money to keep and increase the splendor of the place. There are palms and bamboos; oaks and evergreens; orchids and roses; vines that are perfect sheets of strange, intense color; uncanny-looking flowers lifting their blossom of flame or lavender straight from the earth; queer trees with long, pendulous blooms of scarlet; ponds where pink and blue lilies grow; Roman benches whence are views of mountains and the passing ships at sea; and in the midst the beautiful Moorish-like house where Sir Frederick lives.

OSBORNE, ALBERT B., Picture Towns of Europe, New York: Robert M. Mcbride & Company, 1912, p. 95