Artwork

a flowering plant.

a flowering plant., by Unknown, paint, 1750
a flowering plant., by Unknown, paint, 1750

a flowering plant. is a paint painting by Unknown. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work portrays a fritillary plant rendered in opaque watercolor accented with gold leaf on paper.

About this work

Overview

The work portrays a fritillary plant rendered in opaque watercolor accented with gold leaf on paper. Bright orange blossoms with deep‑red stamens stand out against a muted ivory background, while the composition is bordered by strips of pink‑beige paper outlined in black ink and accented with green paper elements.

Subject & Meaning

The botanical subject is a flowering plant with slender stems and five bell‑shaped orange flowers, each centered by a dark, crimson stamen. The straightforward, decorative treatment emphasizes the plant’s natural form and vivid coloration, reflecting an interest in exotic flora.

Technique & Style

The artist employed opaque watercolor, building volume through hatched lines in darker tones and applying gold leaf for highlights. Black ink outlines define the borders and peripheral paper strips, while the gilded page edges and a woven beige strip along the left margin suggest a careful, book‑binding context.

History & Provenance

This piece belongs to the Small Clive Album, a collection thought to have been gifted by the Nawab of Avadh to Lord Clive during his Indian tour between 1765 and 1767. The album’s binding and decorative elements indicate its status as a diplomatic gift.

Context

The painting reflects 18th‑century cross‑cultural exchanges, where Indian patrons presented European‑style watercolor works to British officials. Its botanical focus aligns with contemporary interests in cataloguing and celebrating exotic plants encountered through colonial trade.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known