Semi-Double Tree Peony and Caspian Nelumbium by Sarah Ann Drake I Rose, Anemone, Clematide, a 20x200 Vintage Edition
8"x10" / 10" x 8" ($24) | 11"x14" / 14"x11" ($60) | 16"x20" / 20"x16" ($240)
If you’re on our page, then you know houseplants provide a super welcome dose of indoor ecotherapy, much-needed in the cement jungle. You also likely share in our desire to surround ourselves with enormous quantities of plants à la every single cool interior design blog out there. But taking care of all that greenery is not as easy as it looks, dammit! (Why is overly-ambitious plant collecting not more of a trending topic...)
Our solution? Botanical art—and plenty of it. These three new Vintage Editions are case-in-point. We couldn’t contain ourselves (what’s new). How could we pick just one of these floral stunners? Cue today’s TRIPLE edition release. We’re in full bloom.
These three editions are renderings of our very favorite flowers, all created for botanic study in the 1830s and 40s. Two were produced by renowned (and prolific) botanical illustrator Sarah Ann Drake, including the Semi-Double Tree Peony—a remarkable blossom that takes considerably longer to grow than your average garden peony. These peonies are well worth the wait, with larger flowers that last longer once cut and double the petals emerging from their crown. This particular variety (called Cora Louise) has a striking coloration—pearl white petals with a deep purple center.
Drake’s other illustration is the Caspian Nelumbium, a single, luscious-looking lotus flower, the “reclining nude” of our botanical trio. Both Drake’s drawings were made from live specimens, which were no small feat to secure at the time. The Caspian Nelumbium, for instance, is a fragile water lotus that was transported with the utmost care across a considerable distance from its native Caspian Sea.
Finally, we’ve got Rose, Anemone, Clematide, a watercolor Pierre-Joseph Redouté created for the publication of his book Choix des Plus Belle Fleurs: et des plus beaux fruits (Choice of the Most Beautiful Flowers and the most beautiful fruits). The book contained 144 paintings in total, a mere fraction of the thousands of plates Redouté published in his lifetime. The blooms featured in his bouquet are a tasteful assortment of color and texture.
So put down the fiddle-leaf fig and pick up one of these three prints. You’ll get the mood-boosting benefits of botanics, sans the stress of good plant parenthood—our ideal arrangement.
With art for everyone,
Jen Bekman + Team 20x200
P.S. Speaking of parenthood, Mother’s Day ain’t so far away (nudge nudge if you’ve got a mom type to gift). Might these fine florals be up her alley?
