Artwork
Corn poppies; larkspur
Corn poppies; larkspur 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. This watercolour depicts a stalk with corn poppy blossoms on one side and a larkspur on the other.
About this work
Overview
This watercolour depicts a stalk with corn poppy blossoms on one side and a larkspur on the other. Created around 1575, it is one of 59 drawings in an album acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1856.
Subject & Meaning
The artist, Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues, accurately rendered the flowers, labeling them 'Papaver rhoeas' and 'Consolida.' The detailed representation reflects the Renaissance interest in botanical illustration, often used to study plants' medicinal and symbolic properties.
Technique & Style
The watercolour features delicate, realistic renderings of the flowers against a plain background. The poppies are depicted with bright red petals and dark centers, while the stems and leaves are shown in muted green tones, showcasing the artist's attention to detail.
History & Provenance
The album containing this watercolour was likely produced in France before Le Moyne de Morgues moved to London around 1580. Its fine binding and bilingual inscriptions suggest a high level of craftsmanship and a potentially aristocratic patron.
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…
Untitled
Papaver rhoeas (korn-valmue)
Papaver dubium (gærde-valmue); Papaver rhoeas (korn-valmue)
Two Tulips
Papaver somniferum (opium-valmue)
Anemone ×fulgens (skinnende anemone); Anemone coronaria (fransk anemone)
Ranunculus Hortensis
Study of a Tulip (Anvaers)
Tulips
Tulipa clusiana (clusius-tulipan)
Tulipa gesneriana (have-tulipan)
De Poolse Muts