The art of botanical illustration combines knowledge with pleasure, requiring not only meticulous craftsmanship but also strict scientific understanding. This new edition of a TASCHEN classic celebrates the botanical tradition and talents with a selection of exceptional works from the National Library of Vienna, including many new images. From Byzantine manuscripts to 19th-century masterpieces, the masterpieces depicting lilacs, calla lilies, and chrysanthemums impress with their precision and aesthetics. Whether it is delicately wrapped leaves, carefully woven fruits, or the simple beauty and variety of colors, we celebrate an art as tender as it is precise, which is gaining increasing importance in the context of our growing awareness of our ecological environment and the preciousness of natural flora.