Who painted Phytographia Curiosa: Cistus Minor Rosmarini-Folius?

Phytographia Curiosa: Cistus Minor Rosmarini-Folius was painted by Abraham Munting in 1667.

Where can I see Phytographia Curiosa: Cistus Minor Rosmarini-Folius?

Phytographia Curiosa: Cistus Minor Rosmarini-Folius is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Phytographia Curiosa: Cistus Minor Rosmarini-Folius?

Phytographia Curiosa: Cistus Minor Rosmarini-Folius is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Phytographia Curiosa: Cistus Minor Rosmarini-Folius

Abraham Munting , 1667

Phytographia Curiosa: Cistus Minor Rosmarini-Folius is a print by the Baroque artist Abraham Munting. It dates from 1667 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1667 by Dutch botanist‑artist Abraham Munting, this botanical print depicts the plant known scientifically as Cistus minor rosamarini‑folius. Executed as a single sheet, the image is part of Munting’s larger series of plant illustrations and is now part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The work presents a potted shrub bearing small orange blossoms and slender, elongated leaves. The plant is rendered against a simple architectural backdrop—a stone ledge, a brick wall, and a distant horizon of buildings and a hillside—emphasising the specimen itself rather than a narrative scene.

Technique & Style

Munting employed fine line work and delicate hatching to convey texture in both foliage and flower petals, typical of Baroque botanical illustration. The print’s chiaroscuro shading creates a subtle three‑dimensional effect, while the precise labeling reflects the scientific intent of the image.

History & Provenance

First published in Munting’s 1667 botanical volume, the print circulated among scholars and collectors of medicinal plants. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through a 20th‑century acquisition of Munting’s prints, where it remains on view as an example of early modern plant documentation.