Artwork

Narcissus tazetta (tazet); Narcissus ×medioluteus (toblomstret narcis); Narcissus bulbocodium (krinoline-narcis)

Narcissus tazetta (tazet); Narcissus ×medioluteus (toblomstret narcis); Narcissus bulbocodium (krinoline-narcis) is an unspecified work on paper by Unknown. It dates from 1654 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created around 1654 by the artist catalogued as 35199_person, this botanical illustration is part of the Museum of Ethnography’s collection.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1654 by the artist catalogued as 35199_person, this botanical illustration is part of the Museum of Ethnography’s collection. The work depicts three varieties of narcissus—Narcissus tazetta, Narcissus × medioluteus, and Narcissus bulbocodium—rendered in a single image that combines flower, stem, bud, and root elements in a unified composition.

Subject & Meaning

The illustration presents the narcissus plants in various stages of growth: open blossoms with white petals surrounding yellow coronas, elongated green stems, unopened buds, and, at the lower edge, brown bulbs from which roots descend. By showing the full life cycle, the image serves both as a visual study of the species and as a reference for their identification and cultivation.

Technique & Style

Executed in a detailed, naturalistic manner typical of 17th‑century botanical books, the artist employs fine line work and subtle shading to convey texture across petals, foliage, and root structures. The rendering emphasizes accuracy over decorative flourish, reflecting the scientific intent of early modern plant illustration, where each morphological feature is recorded with precision.

History & Provenance

The piece dates to the mid‑17th century, a period when European scholars increasingly compiled illustrated herbals. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it now contributes to the institution’s documentation of historical scientific illustration practices.