Artwork
Plantae Selectae: No. 41
Plantae Selectae: No. 41 is a print by the Romanticist artist Georg Dionysius Ehret. It dates from 1762 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Plantae Selectae: No.
About this work
Overview
The image presents a single stem bearing large, verdant leaves and a cluster of pink blossoms with yellow centers, rendered against a muted off‑white ground.
Plantae Selectae: No. 41 is a botanical print executed by Georg Dionysius Ehret in 1762. The image presents a single stem bearing large, verdant leaves and a cluster of pink blossoms with yellow centers, rendered against a muted off‑white ground. The composition balances the central foliage with peripheral details, including a fallen flower on the left and additional petals and leaves on the right, creating a measured sense of depth.
Subject & Meaning
The work illustrates a cultivated specimen of flowering plant, emphasizing the stages of bloom and the structural relationship between stem, leaf, and flower. By isolating the specimen from any landscape context, Ehret foregrounds the scientific observation of form and color, inviting the viewer to consider the plant’s anatomy and the subtle variations that occur as it matures.
Technique & Style
Ehret employed fine line engraving combined with delicate wash tones to achieve a high level of detail. The contrast between the dark outlines and the soft, pastel fills produces a subtle chiaroscuro effect, enhancing the three‑dimensional illusion of the foliage. His precise rendering of veins and petal textures reflects the Enlightenment‑era emphasis on accuracy in natural history illustration.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑18th century, the print forms part of Ehret’s larger Plantae Selectae series, a collection intended for botanical study and publication. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through a later acquisition, where it remains catalogued as an example of early scientific illustration and European printmaking.
Artist & collection
Artist
Georg Dionysius Ehret was a German botanist and entomologist known for his botanical illustrations.
