Artwork
Opium poppy; Vetch and black-veined white butterfly
Opium poppy; Vetch and black-veined white butterfly 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 is part of an album of 59 botanical illustrations created around 1575.
About this work
This watercolor shows an opium poppy and vetch with a butterfly. It’s one of 59 botanical pages in an album made around 1575. The artist used fine details to show both sides of one sheet.
Le Moyne de Morgues was once seen only as a designer for woodcuts. His later fame comes from these delicate, accurate plant pictures.
Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
This watercolour is part of an album of 59 botanical illustrations created around 1575. It is attributed to Jacques Lemoyne de Morgues, a Huguenot artist active in the 16th century.
Subject & Meaning
The work features two distinct illustrations on either side of a single sheet: an Opium Poppy on one side and a Common Vetch with a Black-veined White Butterfly on the other.
Technique & Style
The illustrations showcase Lemoyne de Morgues' skill in capturing fine details, demonstrating a high level of precision and delicacy characteristic of early botanical painting.
History & Provenance
Lemoyne de Morgues was initially known for designing woodcuts, but his botanical watercolours, rediscovered in the 20th century, have reevaluated his place in art history.
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…
