Aristolochiaceae?, Anselmus Boëtius de Boodt, 1596 - 1610
brush, h 210mm × w 190mm More details
The natural sciences underwent a profound transformation at the end of the 16th century, with greater emphasis placed on insights derived from personal observations. De Boodt, too, adopted a precise and encyclopaedic approach. In this case, the artist may have studied a species from the Birthwort family, recognizable by its tubular flower – a notorious trap for insects – and its spherical fruit. The drawing does not appear entirely lifelike, making the genus of the plant unclear.
