
Musée No:318.051
Regular price £25.00Stapelia Paniculata Wild. (Small starfish flower)
Artist: Robert Jacob Gordon
Date: (1743–1795)
Robert Jacob Gordon was a Dutch scientist who travelled extensively throughout South Africa during the second half of the 18th century. He was a zoologist, cartographer, geographer and linguist who recorded his discoveries in a treasure trove collection of 450 drawings. He described and dissected hundreds of indigenous animals and plants and sent their details to correspondents throughout Europe. After four epic journeys he returned to his job as an army colonel until after the Anglo-Dutch War. He was then able to make a fifth and final voyage, in 1785, completing his travels abroad. He was married to Suzanne Nicolet who bore him four sons but sadly, after such an illustrious career Robert committed suicide at the age of 52 in 1795.