IDENTIFIERS ----------- id: 23099 accession number: PD.257-1973 DATE AUDIT ---------- created: Saturday 6 August 2011 updated: Thursday 23 January 2025 DESCRIPTIVE DATA ---------------- object type: This is a botanical illustration depicting Celosia argentea var. cristata, known as cockscomb. The plant has a tall green stem with several broad, pointed leaves arranged along its length. At the top of the stem is a cluster of pink flowers forming a rounded head. The plant originated from India and was used for medicine in China. The illustration demonstrates careful attention to botanical detail, showing the natural curve of the stem and the precise arrangement of the leaves, with delicate gradations in the green of the foliage and subtle pink tones in the flower head. RHS collection has a similar illustration (A/PJI/35). The late 18th century saw the rise of natural history painting and patronage in China and the East Indies. When Europeans arrived in Canton and Macao, they were keen to collect exotic specimens and wanted to commission drawings to send back home. This enthusiasm for natural history came from both professional and amateur botanists, many of whom were employees of the East India Company, who proved to be avid collectors. Stock sets of pictures were soon produced for the European market depicting fruit, flowers, birds and insects. Cockscomb depicted in this illustration is a typical selection. Previously described as "botanical study". 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/23099 SUBJECTS ------------------- plant plant TECHNIQUES ---------- watercolour on paper watercolour CATEGORIES ------ category: drawing DATING ------ creation date: 1800 - 1800 creation date earliest: 1800 creation date latest: 1800 culture: 19th Century CREATORS -------- maker: Canton workshop