The Genius of Nature: Botanical Drawings by Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues

Stunning small display at the British Museum of botanical drawings by Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues.

From a first glance I had assumed these were late 17th early 18th century works so was stunned to find they came from an album given to Lady Mary Sidney in 1586. Le Moyne was a Huguenot who came to London in 1580 having been on a French Protestant expedition to America in 1565.

The pictures were exquisite showing fruit, vegetables, insects and plants in detail. In some of the flower pictures he shows all stages of their development in one image. A beautiful picture of a fir come uses the frame to build the composition whereas in others the plant escapes from the frame.

As ever at in British Museum print gallery displays the labels were well written, not only explaining the art but also the plants and their histories.

Closed 24 January 2024


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