Love-in-a-mist; Field cow-wheat

The recto depicts Nigella damascena, commonly known as love‑in‑a‑mist, while the verso illustrates field cow‑wheat (Agrostis capillaris). Both are rendered as isolated specimens, emphasizing their delicate forms and characteristic foliage for close observation.

Executed in transparent watercolour, the images employ fine brushwork and a restrained palette to convey the subtle textures of petals and seed heads. The artist’s approach balances scientific accuracy with a graceful, almost lyrical composition, typical of early modern botanical illustration.

The album is attributed to the Huguenot painter Jacques Lemoyne de Morgues (1533–1588), whose work was long regarded as merely decorative. Rediscovered in the early twentieth century, these watercolours have since secured Lemoyne’s reputation as a pioneering figure in the development of botanical art.

Created during the Renaissance surge in natural history study, the sheets reflect a growing interest in cataloguing plant species for medicinal and horticultural purposes. Lemoyne’s illustrations align with contemporary scientific manuscripts while retaining an artistic sensibility.

Although once overlooked, the album’s specimens are now cited as exemplary early examples of botanical illustration, illustrating the transition from ornamental drawing to systematic plant documentation.