Aurantium Crispo Folio 1646

This watercolor and engraving of an orange is by Giovanni Battista Ferrari, who lived in the 17th century. Ferrari was not just an artist, but a Jesuit priest and botanist who cultivated a dialogue between faith, science and the natural world. Consider how botanical illustration served a dual purpose in Ferrari’s time. It was both a scientific endeavor, aiming to document and classify plant species, and an aesthetic one, intended to inspire wonder at the divine creation. The exotic citrus fruit was a symbol of wealth and global trade, but also a signifier of cultural exchange and religious expansion. The Jesuits, with their global network, were key players in this exchange. How does the image reflect the interwoven strands of science, religion, and global exchange that shaped Ferrari’s world? How does it invite us to contemplate our relationship with nature and the cultural meanings we ascribe to it?