Artwork
Columbine; Gilliflower
Columbine; Gilliflower is a watercolor work on paper by the Byzantine icon painting artist Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues. It dates from 1568 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This watercolour depicts two distinct floral subjects on either side of a sheet.
About this work
Overview
This watercolour depicts two distinct floral subjects on either side of a sheet. Created by Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues, it is part of a larger album of botanical illustrations.
Subject & Meaning
The work features a columbine with purple flowers and a gillyflower with white, red, and pink blooms. The detailed renderings reflect the artist's interest in botanical accuracy, serving both scientific and aesthetic purposes.
Technique & Style
The watercolour showcases Le Moyne de Morgues' meticulous attention to detail, evident in the depiction of fine textures such as the tiny hairs on the gillyflower buds. This level of realism was characteristic of botanical illustration during the late 16th century.
History & Provenance
The watercolour is from an album of 59 watercolours acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1856. It is attributed to Le Moyne de Morgues' time in France around 1575, before his relocation to London.
Context
This work is part of a broader tradition of florilegium, a genre of botanical illustration that flourished in the 16th century. Other albums by Le Moyne de Morgues, including one held by the British Museum, share similar characteristics.
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…
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