Artwork

Dracocephalum moldavica (moldavisk dragehoved); Moluccella spinosa (tornet tragtbæger); Melissa officinalis (citron-melisse)

Dracocephalum moldavica (moldavisk dragehoved); Moluccella spinosa (tornet tragtbæger); Melissa officinalis (citron-melisse) is an unspecified work on paper by Unknown. It dates from 1654 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Dracocephalum moldavica, Moluccella spinosa, and Melissa officinalis is a botanical artwork created circa 1654 by 35199_person, currently housed at the Museum of Ethnography.

Subject & Meaning

The piece depicts three plants in meticulous detail, from roots to flowers, highlighting their distinct characteristics: Dracocephalum moldavica with long stems and small blue flowers, Moluccella spinosa with round, clustered buds and broad leaves, and Melissa officinalis with spiky leaves and tiny white flowers.

Technique & Style

The artist employed a detailed drawing technique, emphasizing minute features such as leaf veins and flower shapes, characteristic of illustrations found in historical botanical texts. The use of watercolor allowed for depth through layered color mixing.

History & Provenance

Created in 1654, the artwork is attributed to 35199_person and is now part of the collection at the Museum of Ethnography.

Context

This work exemplifies the botanical illustration tradition of its time, where accurate depiction of plants served both scientific and aesthetic purposes, often featured in old plant books.