IDENTIFIERS ----------- id: 23112 accession number: PD.270-1973 DATE AUDIT ---------- created: Saturday 6 August 2011 updated: Thursday 17 July 2025 DESCRIPTIVE DATA ---------------- object type: This is a botanical illustration of a single white rose. The flower is rendered with exquisite detail, showing the many overlapping petals characteristic of a fully opened rose bloom, with subtle yellow-green tints and a delicate yellow center. The stem is green with small thorns or prickles visible, and the foliage shows the typical compound leaves of a rose plant, with serrated edges and a natural arrangement along the stem. Each leaf is painted with careful attention to detail, showing the veining and natural variations in the green colouring. The handwritten text at the bottom of the paper reads "Painted from Nature" and beneath that "No 97" followed by what appears to be "Wang en Lue", which could be the name of the artist. In early 19th century, Chinese botanical illustrations were often commissioned by European botanists, naturalists, and wealthy collectors who were eager to document and understand Asian flora. Chinese artists, working primarily in watercolours, adapted their traditional painting techniques to meet European demands for scientific accuracy while maintaining their distinctive artistic style. These illustrations became important resources for European botanical studies, contributing significantly to the documentation and understanding of Asian plant species in the West. These works now serve as valuable records of both botanical history and cross-cultural artistic exchange during a period of increasing global connection. Previously described as "single flower on its stem". title: drawing LICENSING --------- text license status: CC0 image license status: CC-BY-NC-SA OWNERSHIP --------- instutition: The Fitzwilliam Museum department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints collection: Broughton Collection STABLE URL ---------- url: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/23112 SUBJECTS ------------------- plant plant TECHNIQUES ---------- bodycolour on paper watercolour CATEGORIES ------ category: drawing DATING ------ creation date: 1800 - 1900 creation date earliest: 1800 creation date latest: 1900 culture: 19th Century CREATORS -------- maker: Canton workshop