Artwork
Cornflower; Corn cockle
Cornflower; Corn cockle 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 cornflower and a corn cockle, rendered in delicate washes that capture the fine details of the blossoms.
About this work
Overview
This watercolour depicts a cornflower and a corn cockle, rendered in delicate washes that capture the fine details of the blossoms. It forms part of a series of fifty‑nine botanical studies created by Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues, a 16th‑century French painter and explorer whose works are held in the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on two native European wildflowers, illustrating their form, colour and structure with scientific precision. While the image serves a documentary purpose, the careful rendering also reflects an aesthetic appreciation of natural beauty, a common aim in early modern botanical illustration.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolour, the study employs thin, translucent layers to model the petals and leaves, allowing subtle tonal variations. Le Moyne’s approach combines the observational rigor of a naturalist with the decorative sensibility of a court artist, resulting in a work that is both informative and visually refined.
History & Provenance
Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues (c. 1533–1588) travelled with Sir Walter Raleigh on voyages to Florida and later worked in London. The watercolour entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection as part of its holdings of his botanical series, which were assembled to document New World and European flora.
Context
In the late 16th century, detailed plant studies were often produced to support artisans such as jewelers, embroiderers and textile designers. Le Moyne’s series would have provided accurate visual references for craftsmen seeking natural motifs, bridging scientific observation and decorative arts.
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…
Columbine; Gilliflower
Agrostemma githago (almindelig klinte); Centaurea cyanus (kornblomst)
Anemone ×fulgens (skinnende anemone)
Centaurea montana (bjerg-knopurt); Amberboa moschata (duft-sultan)
Amberboa moschata (duft-sultan)
Brassica napus (raps); Iberis amara (bitter sløjfeblomst)
Spiraea salicifolia (pilebladet spiræa); Catananche caerulea (blå rasleblomst)