Artwork
Cherry; Bullace (wild plum)
Cherry; Bullace (wild plum) is a watercolor work on paper by the Early Baroque Italian artist Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues. It dates from 1568 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
It’s a tiny watercolour study of fruit — part of a series he made to show craftspeople real plants.
Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues painted Cherry; Bullace (wild plum) around 1560-1575. It’s a tiny watercolour study of fruit — part of a series he made to show craftspeople real plants. You’d see this kind of sharp, close-up drawing in a shop’s reference drawer.
Le Moyne drew these pictures to help jewelers, embroiderers, and other makers copy nature exactly. His work traveled from France to London, and even crossed the Atlantic with Raleigh’s explorers.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more of his plant studies.
Overview
Cherry; Bullace (wild plum) is a small watercolour study created by Jacques Le Moyne De Morgues between 1560 and 1575. It is one of 59 similar botanical and entomological studies in the Victoria and Albert Museum collection.
Subject & Meaning
The piece depicts two types of fruit, cherry and bullace (a wild plum), in meticulous detail. Its primary purpose was to provide a realistic reference for artisans, such as jewelers and embroiderers, to replicate natural forms accurately in their work.
Technique & Style
Characterized by sharp, close-up rendering, the watercolour reflects Le Moyne De Morgues' attention to botanical detail, typical of reference drawings intended for practical use by craftsmen rather than aesthetic display.
History & Provenance
Originally from France, the artwork's provenance includes a connection to London, where Le Moyne De Morgues worked. His travels, notably with Sir Walter Raleigh to Florida, highlight the broader geographical reach of his work, though this piece itself does not directly relate to these expeditions.
Context
Part of a larger set of 59 studies, Cherry; Bullace (wild plum) exemplifies the intersection of art and craft in the 16th century, where detailed drawings served as essential tools for designers and makers across various disciplines.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues (French pronunciation: ; c. 1533–1588) was a French artist and member of Jean Ribault's expedition to the New World. His depictions of Native American life and culture, colonial life, and…
