Artwork
Red Frangipanni (Plumeria rubra)
Red Frangipanni (Plumeria rubra) is an ink print by the Baroque artist Mark Catesby. It dates from 1737 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Red Frangipanni (Plumeria rubra) is an etching and engraving with hand coloring on laid paper, created by English naturalist Mark Catesby in 1737.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a close-up of the tropical frangipani flower, showcasing its large green leaves and clustered pink blooms on a brown stem, based on Catesby’s New World observations.
Technique & Style
Catesby combined etching, engraving, and hand coloring to achieve a delicate, muted palette dominated by shades of green and pink, characteristic of detailed natural history illustrations.
History & Provenance
Part of Catesby’s *Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands* (1729-1747), this work was part of the first comprehensive documentation of North American flora and fauna.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mark Catesby (24 March 1683 – 23 December 1749) was an English naturalist who studied the flora and fauna of the New World.
