Snapdragon Plant with Seed Pods (Antirrhinum majus L.)

Anselmus Boëtius de Boodt, 1596 - 1610

The Historia Naturalis aimed to give a reliable scientific image for each subject, but at first sight this strangelooking plant seems rather fantastical. However, the skull-like white ‘flowers’ are the dried seed pods of the snapdragon. The draughtsman copied the image from a print from the Cruydt-Boeck (1554), an album with plant illustrations made by botanist Rembert Dodoens (1517-1585).

  • Artwork typedrawing
  • Object numberRP-T-BR-2017-1-11-15
  • Dimensionsheight 324 mm x width 137 mm
  • Physical characteristicspenseel in waterverf en dekverf over zwart krijt, handschrift in pen in bruin