8 THE ALPINE FLORA 



reasoned and thoughtful exposition of the difficulties and 

 dangers, based upon a description of their environment 

 and physiological characteristics, to practical instruction 

 in the proper and safe method of procedure. 



The spring and summer visitor will find an invaluable 

 companion in the plates, executed after water-colours by 

 M. Ph. Robert. But they are of wider appeal. The 

 appreciative words of M. Eugene Burnand, which form 

 a preface to the original edition, are worth the quoting in 

 this context. He writes : 



"You have honoured me with a request for a few 

 lines of introduction to la Tlore alpine illustrated by 

 M. Philippe Robert. Your proposal is at once an honour 

 and an obligation. I cannot, in a word, neglect the oppor- 

 tunity given of paying tribute to a work of such 

 remarkable beauty, so thoughtful and tender, to which 

 the young artist has consecrated so much love and 

 unstinted labour. 



"As I look upon the complete series of M. Ph. 

 Robert's water-colours scattered upon my table, a name 

 instinctively occurs to mind the name of Fra Angelico. 

 There is the same feeling of intimacy, the same scrupulous 

 fidelity of rendering, the same absence of strained effect, 

 the same meditative and sympathetic vision in the modest 

 painter of 'Ried d'en haut' as that which is revealed in 

 the monkish artist of Fiesole. 



"This exquisite flora could not bloom but in seclusion. 

 Success could not come but from silent and fervid 

 contemplation, with the ever-present aid of direct 

 communion with reality. All this Ried offers in 

 abundance, Ried and Valais where Ph. Robert has spent 

 months of concentrated toil. 



