Fragrant plantain lily (hosta plantaginea), yu zan
1800
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1800
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Fragrant plantain lily (hosta plantaginea), yu zan is a 1800 paint by Unknown, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a single plant with big green leaves and a tall stem holding clusters of small white flowers. One leaf has a brownish spot near its center. The background is plain white, keeping all focus on the plant. The artist paid close attention to the texture of each leaf and flower, making them look almost real. This kind of careful nature study was common in the 1800s. Next, look up Romanticism to see how artists used nature in their work.
