Artwork
Bignonia Capreolata
Bignonia Capreolata is a watercolor work on paper by Johann Knapp. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This watercolour presents a detailed study of Bignonia capreolata, a climbing vine distinguished by its bright green foliage and characteristic flowers. The composition isolates the plant against an unadorned background, allowing the vivid reds and yellows of the blossoms to dominate the visual field.
Subject & Meaning
The illustration captures the vine’s slender stems, intertwined tendrils, and the distinctive three‑flower arrangement. Two blossoms are fully opened, revealing tubular red corollas that flare into yellow tips, while the third remains less developed, highlighting the plant’s reproductive cycle.
Technique & Style
Executed in transparent watercolour, the work emphasizes fine line work and meticulous shading to render leaf veins and the subtle fuzz of the seed pods. The artist’s precise rendering reflects the scientific illustration tradition, where accuracy supersedes decorative embellishment.
History & Provenance
Created by Johann Knapp, a noted 19th‑century botanical illustrator, the piece exemplifies the detailed plant studies used in contemporary scientific publications. Knapp’s oeuvre is recognized for its exacting representation of flora, serving both educational and archival purposes.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Knapp drew plants so precisely you’d swear they’re still alive on the page. The man spent hours in gardens, ink in hand, tracing every vein on a leaf like he was solving a puzzle. His watercolors of Pitcairnia…
Atropa Belladonna
Ipomoea purpurea (purpur-pragtsnerle)
Salvia Splendens
(Botanical: Maurándia semperflorens)
Flore des Jardiniers, Amateurs et Manufacturiers: Maurandia semperflorens
Les Roses: Rosa Longifolia
Scarlet Pentapetes
Cours d'Histoire Naturelle, contenant les principales espèces du règne animal, classées methodiquemenet: Martynia or Unicorn Plant
Plantae et Papiliones rariores: Martynia
Chalice Vine
Lathyrus sylvestris (skov-fladbælg); Lathyrus tuberosus (knold-fladbælg)- Cross-vine (Bignonia capreolata)