Pelargonium pulchellum Sims (Nonesuch pelargonium) Possibly 1777 - 1786

Robert Jacob Gordon rendered this watercolor of Pelargonium pulchellum, or Nonesuch pelargonium. In botanical art, flowers are not merely aesthetic objects, but symbols of life, renewal, and the natural order. Consider the meticulous detail here. It echoes the medieval 'hortus conclusus,' or enclosed garden, a symbolic representation of the Virgin Mary's purity and, by extension, the soul's protected space. The Pelargonium, with its upright growth and symmetrical arrangement, bears a resemblance to depictions of the Tree of Life. This ancient motif appears in cultures from Mesopotamia to Scandinavia, symbolizing immortality and connection between the earthly and divine realms. But here, the unfinished sketch, a shadow, introduces a modern, psychological element. It whispers of incompleteness, of nature's transient beauty, and perhaps, our own fleeting existence, engaging our subconscious on a deeper, emotional level. Like a memento mori, it reminds us of life's ephemeral nature, a concept that endlessly resurfaces in art across different epochs.