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Gardens and Botanicals

Flowers were studied before they were painted for pleasure, and the two impulses run together here: the botanist's careful plate, the gardener's border, the still life cut from a summer morning. Most of these works were made to record a plant exactly; many ended up as much admired for their colour.

24 works · hang 7523 ·

The rooms are imagined; every work on their walls is real.

Walk this roomRehang this room

First room, north wall

  1. Study of a Tulip (Wit en root boode), by Pieter Holsteyn II, c. 1645
    Study of a Tulip (Wit en root boode)Pieter Holsteyn II, c. 1645Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  2. Still Life with Fan and Roses, by Thomas Hovenden, 1874
    Still Life with Fan and RosesThomas Hovenden, 1874Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
  3. A bouquet of flowers against a dark brown background hangs from a sapphire-blue bow to fill this vertical still life painting. The three largest blooms make a pyramid at the center. A pale pink, flat-leaved carnation is to the lower right of this trio. A red and white striped tulip with flame-shaped petals is next to it, to our right, and a white viburnum bloom, which is made of dozens of smaller clusters, is above. A tan-colored spider builds a web at the center of these three blossoms. Using the face of a clock to work around this trio, we find a spotted bug on a smaller viburnum and some frosty green leaves at noon. A muted orange moth rests on a stalk nearby. Down the right side, the layered vivid blue petals of a love-in-the-mist explode like a starburst. Two coral-red peonies, a mostly closed peony, a topaz-blue morning glory, and the fuzzy fingers of amaranth bring us to six o’clock. Up the left side are delicate pink crab apple blossoms, a spray of Chinese lanterns, a yellow rose with ants crawling across its splayed petals, a striped morning glory, and a few blue, orange, and red buds. A caterpillar rears up on a Chinese lantern bud and a ladybug sits on a leaf nearby. A few stalks of wheat are scattered throughout. Stems weave through the blue ribbon at the top, which is tied around a protruding nail. The artist signed the lower left corner, “AB Mignon f,” with the AB conjoined in a monogram.
    A Hanging Bouquet of FlowersAbraham Mignon, probably 1665/1670Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  4. Cherry Blossoms in the Wind, by Utagawa Toyokuni, late 1790s
    Cherry Blossoms in the WindUtagawa Toyokuni, late 1790sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

First room, south wall

  1. Still Life with Flowers, a Snail and Insects, by Joris Hoefnagel, 1589
    Still Life with Flowers, a Snail and InsectsJoris Hoefnagel, 1589Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. A Rose, by Thomas Anshutz, 1907
    A RoseThomas Anshutz, 1907Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. Hanging scroll
    Drake and lotus flowersHuang Jucai, 1279-1368Courtesy of the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution
  4. Portrait of a Young Girl with Rose, by Oliver Tarbell Eddy, ca. 1838
    Portrait of a Young Girl with RoseOliver Tarbell Eddy, ca. 1838Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Second room, south wall

  1. Album leaf
    Quail and flowersZhao Boju, 18th centuryCourtesy of the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution
  2. A work made of opaque watercolor and gold on paper.
    Holi Festival in a Walled Garden with CelebrantsUnrecorded Indian maker, c. 1764Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  3. A work made of engraving in black ink with opaque and translucent watercolor on cream laid paper.
    July, from Twelve Months of FlowersHenry Fletcher, n.d.Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  4. Irises, by Vincent van Gogh, 1890
    IrisesVincent van Gogh, 1890Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Second room, north wall

  1. The image shows a central person standing with both arms raised. They have a long beard, aged appearance, long hair, and wear a robe. Three other individuals are around them, reclining or lying on the ground. The setting is an outdoor scene with detailed trees and vegetation. There are initials "I.SP" in the top right corner.
    The Agony in the GardenSebald Beham, 1522Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. Paulownias and Chrysanthemums, by Sakai Hōitsu, early 1800s
    Paulownias and ChrysanthemumsSakai Hōitsu, early 1800sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Third room, north wall

  1. Poem by Kamo no Chōmei with Underpainting of Cherry Blossoms, by Hon'ami Kōetsu, 1606
    Poem by Kamo no Chōmei with Underpainting of Cherry BlossomsHon'ami Kōetsu, 1606Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. Birds and Flowers, by Kano Mitsunobu, late 1500s
    Birds and FlowersKano Mitsunobu, late 1500sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art