Artwork

Phlomis fruticosa (almindelig løvehale); Salvia officinalis (læge-salvie)

Phlomis fruticosa (almindelig løvehale); Salvia officinalis (læge-salvie) 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

Phlomis fruticosa (almindelig løvehale) and Salvia officinalis (læge-salvie) is a botanical watercolor created circa 1654 by an artist identified as 35199_person, currently housed at the Museum of Ethnography.

Subject & Meaning

The focus on detailed representation suggests the piece's primary purpose was observational study.

The work depicts three distinct plant specimens against a plain light background: Phlomis fruticosa with bright yellow flowers and elongated green leaves, a possibly dormant or unflowered plant (species not specified in visual note), and a third with purple-tinged leaves and buds, likely Salvia officinalis. The focus on detailed representation suggests the piece's primary purpose was observational study.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolor, the artist emphasized meticulous attention to botanical detail, capturing variations in leaf morphology and floral coloration through layered paint application.

History & Provenance

Created around 1654, the artwork is attributed to 35199_person. Its current location is the Museum of Ethnography, though the full provenance history is not detailed here.

Context

While specific contextual details about the artist's intentions or the work's original purpose beyond botanical study are not provided, it reflects 17th-century interests in detailed natural history illustration.

Legacy

No specific information is given regarding the work's influence, recognition, or place within the artist's oeuvre or broader botanical art history.