Flower Study 1815 - 1825

This watercolor drawing on paper, titled *Flower Study*, came to the Met anonymously. Botanical illustration has long played a role in scientific study and documentation. Here, the plant's stem, leaves, roots and flowers are rendered with precision. But what does it mean for such an image to enter a museum context? Images of plants, such as this, served scientific and economic interests, particularly during the age of exploration. European powers sought to classify and exploit the natural resources of colonized lands. Botanical gardens, such as Kew in London, were crucial to these endeavors, and the images they produced found their way into the collections of wealthy patrons and, eventually, museums. The social life of images like this one depended on a network of institutions, individuals, and economic interests. Art historians draw on these resources to better understand not just what they see, but how it came to be seen in the first place.