Dragon arum flower and tortoiseshell butterfly
1568
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1568
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This painting shows a single dragon arum flower with its long, speckled stem and broad green leaves. The flower’s hooded shape is bright red inside, split open to reveal a dark center. Nearby, a butterfly with orange and black wings rests on the page. The artist paid close attention to the plant’s tiny details, like the speckles on the stem. This kind of careful nature study was common in the 1500s. Look up Renaissance next to see how artists of this time mixed science and art.
