Turpin studied the elements of drawing at the art school in Vire, his home town, and
was greatly influenced by van Spaendonck and Redoute. His work has rarely been
surpassed and Wilfred Blunt considers Turpin to be: "possibly the greatest natural
genius of all French botanical painters of his day." Turpin was also responsible for the
plates, and many of his original drawings are in the Lindley Library.
