Studies of the blossoms, fruits and trunk of an English oak (Quercus robur)

This drawing is part of a group of four studies of wood species donated to the Museum by Mrs. Wrightsman. They were created by Ludwig Pfleger (1720–1793) who seems to have specialized in still-life scenes and studies after nature. Very little is known about his education and early career. Ludwig's father, Franz Pfleger (? –1737), was employed by Sybilla Augusta, countess of Baden-Baden, as artistic director of Schloss Favorite at Rastatt. In this capacity he designed, amongst others, the gardens of the pleasure palace and it may have been the horticultural work which inspired his young son Franz's inclination towards nature as a subject. The detailed studies of wood species and their various identifying characteristics (bark, grain, leaves, blossom and seeds) date from later in his career, and relate to the upcoming encyclopedic efforts to chart and reproduce native and foreign wood species. A contemporary example can be found in Johann Michael Seligmann’s (1720–1762) "Icones Lignorum", published between 1773–1777, which is lavishly illustrated with highly detailed hand-colored engravings. Such illustrations formed important sources for cabinetmakers and their clients to identify and choose specific wood types for marquetry and pieces of furniture.