Artwork
Plantae Selectae: No. 42 - Pulmonaria
Plantae Selectae: No. 42 - Pulmonaria 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.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1762 by Georg Dionysius Ehret, this botanical print is part of the series Plantae Selectae, which documented rare and notable plants.
Created in 1762 by Georg Dionysius Ehret, this botanical print is part of the series Plantae Selectae, which documented rare and notable plants. The work depicts Pulmonaria, a genus known for its spotted leaves and tubular flowers. Rendered with precision, it reflects the scientific and aesthetic priorities of 18th-century botanical illustration. The print is currently held in the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
Pulmonaria, commonly called lungwort, was studied for its medicinal properties and distinctive foliage. Ehret’s depiction emphasizes botanical accuracy, highlighting the plant’s variegated leaves and clustered blossoms. The image serves as a visual record for scholars and horticulturists, aligning with Enlightenment-era efforts to classify and understand the natural world through systematic observation.
Technique & Style
Ehret employed watercolor and ink on paper, using fine linework and delicate washes to capture texture and form. His style blends scientific rigor with artistic refinement, avoiding excessive ornamentation. Shadows and gradations suggest volume, while the uncluttered composition directs attention to the plant’s anatomical details, characteristic of his approach to botanical art.
History & Provenance
The print originated in Ehret’s collaborative project with botanist Christoph Jacob Trew, intended to illustrate exotic and cultivated species. Produced in the mid-18th century, it was distributed as part of a larger series. The Cleveland Museum of Art acquired the work as part of its broader collection of scientific illustrations, preserving its role in the history of botanical documentation.
Context
During the 1760s, European naturalists were expanding plant taxonomy through global exploration. Ehret’s illustrations supported this movement by providing reliable visual references for species identification. His work was widely circulated among academies and private collectors, contributing to the standardization of botanical representation in print culture.
Legacy
Ehret’s prints remain valued for their fidelity to botanical detail and their influence on later illustrators. Plantae Selectae helped establish a visual language for scientific botany, bridging art and empirical study. Today, his works are referenced in historical studies of plant science and the evolution of scientific imagery.
Artist & collection
Artist
Georg Dionysius Ehret was a German botanist and entomologist known for his botanical illustrations.
