Artwork

Collection of Flowers and Fruits Painted after Nature: Bouquet of Foxglove, Clematis, Pansy, Peony, Poppy, and Yellow Day Lily

Collection of Flowers and Fruits Painted after Nature: Bouquet of Foxglove, Clematis, Pansy, Peony, Poppy, and Yellow Day Lily is a print by the Romanticist artist Louis Charles Ruotte. It dates from 1805 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Louis Charles Ruotte painted flowers in 1805. Bright foxglove, clematis, and poppies stand out against soft greens. A yellow day lily glows in the center.

This work shows off real plants from around the world. It came when botany took off in France. Scientists were naming new species every day.

Want to see more like this? Look up Louis Charles Ruotte (French, 1754–1806).

Overview

This print showcases a diverse collection of flowers and fruits, exemplifying the 18th-century fascination with botany and exotic plant species.

Subject & Meaning

The bouquet features a range of flowers, including foxglove, clematis, and poppies, set against soft greens, with a yellow day lily at its center, highlighting the beauty and variety of flora from around the world.

Technique & Style

The print combines printed colors with watercolor additions to achieve a delicate, luminous effect, characteristic of botanical illustrations from this period, and employs stipple technique to create nuanced tones.

Context

Created during a time of rapid botanical discovery in France, this work reflects the growing interest in scientific classification and the documentation of new plant species.