Artwork

Lobelia cardinalis (kardinal-lobelie); Campanula latifolia (bredbladet klokke)

Lobelia cardinalis (kardinal-lobelie); Campanula latifolia (bredbladet klokke) 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 image presents a side‑by‑side study of two herbaceous plants: a striking red‑flowered Lobelia and a softer pink‑blooming Campanula. Both specimens stand on slender green stems, their foliage rendered with attention to vein patterns and the subtle play of light on the petals. The work resides in the collection of the Museum of Ethnography.

Subject & Meaning

The composition juxtaposes the vivid, trumpet‑shaped blossoms of Lobelia cardinalis with the delicate, bell‑like flowers of Campanula latifolia, highlighting contrasts in hue, form, and botanical structure. By placing the two species together, the image serves as a comparative illustration, emphasizing the diversity of flowering plants and their morphological characteristics.

Technique & Style

Executed with meticulous detail, the artist captures fine leaf venation and the translucency of petals through careful rendering of light and shadow. Though classified as an image rather than a traditional watercolor, the visual approach suggests layered application of pigment to achieve depth and a luminous quality typical of botanical illustration of the period.

History & Provenance

Attributed to the creator identified as 35199_person, the piece dates to the mid‑17th century and has been part of the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings. Its preservation within an ethnographic context reflects the historical practice of documenting natural specimens for scientific and cultural study.