Artwork

Geranium phaeum (bølgekronet storkenæb); Geranium sylvaticum (skov-storkenæb)

Geranium phaeum (bølgekronet storkenæb); Geranium sylvaticum (skov-storkenæb) 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

Created around 1654, this botanical illustration depicts two species of geranium—Geranium phaeum and Geranium sylvaticum—commonly known in Danish as bølgekronet storkenæb and skov‑storkenæb. Executed by the artist recorded as 35199_person, the work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography and serves as a detailed visual record of the plants’ morphology.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents five upright specimens, each with slender stems and vivid green foliage. Leaves vary between lobed and entire forms, while the blossoms appear in modest clusters of purple, pink and blue hues. By emphasizing the plants’ structural features, the illustration functions as a scientific reference rather than a decorative piece.

Technique & Style

Rendered with fine line work and subtle washes, the drawing highlights leaf venation and the early stages of bud development. The artist’s careful attention to texture and shading suggests a methodical approach typical of 17th‑century botanical studies, where accuracy was prioritized over painterly effect.

History & Provenance

Attributed to the mid‑17th‑century hand of 35199_person, the illustration entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings through its acquisition of historical natural‑history materials. Its dating to circa 1654 places it among early modern European efforts to catalogue native flora for scholarly and medicinal purposes.

Context

During the 1600s, botanical illustration emerged as a crucial tool for scientists and physicians, bridging art and empirical observation. Works like this one reflect the period’s growing interest in systematic plant classification and the exchange of knowledge across European scholarly networks.