Book of Flower Studies

The Book of Flower Studies contains 39 detailed illuminations of European flowers (ff. 1-35, 37-40) and a majuscule alphabet (ff. 35v-36). The manuscript is composed of fifteen quires; each quire is constructed from two bifolia or four folios. These are numbered at the upper right corner in a sixteenth- or seventeenth-century hand, and again in the lower right in a modern hand. The folios are not nested tightly, indicating the book was rebound several times. During one of these rebinding campaigns, the edges of the folios were gilt with gold. The current green velvet binding dates to the early twentieth century and features enameled filigree decoration in the corners.

The parchment is finely prepared calfskin, measuring an average thickness of .88mm or 8 microns. It has a relatively uniform surface texture, with velvety flesh sides and smooth hair sides wherein some follicles are discernable to the naked eye. Every folio exhibits similar coloring, veining, follicle patterning, and consistent tool marks, which suggest the parchment was manufactured from a single source.

The illuminations and alphabet are primarily drawn on the recto of each folio while the versos are left blank; the only exceptions are the alphabet letters written across 35v-36 and the initials "ER" penned on 24v. Colors are applied in dense layers throughout the book, and the penwork is intricate and expertly done. Such a dense application of pigment results in a three-dimensional effect. Many illuminations are augmented by shell gold and silver, and some include pencil-thin shadow lines, which is typical of the artist’s technique.


The following is a detailed list of the contents of the manuscript:


f. 1 Blackberry, unripe fruits and flower (Rubus sectio rubus) with a jaybird

f. 2 Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) with a blue, yellow and red butterfly

f. 3 Field Marigold (Calendula arvensis) with a blue butterfly

f. 4 Chicory (Cichorium intybus) with a dragonfly

f. 5 Snow in Summer (Cerastium tomentosum) with blue, orange and yellow butterfly

f. 6 Dark Mullein (Verbascum nigrum) with a fly

f. 7 Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum tectorum) with an eared owl

f. 8 Scottish Thistle (Onopordium acanthium) with a dragonfly

f. 9 Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) with a fly

f. 10 Blue Pimpernel (Anagallis foemina) with a moth

f. 11 Hazelnut (Corylus avellane) with a jaybird

f. 12 Red Carnation (Dianthus sp.) with a blue, orange and yellow butterfly

f. 13 Sweet Violet (Viola odorata) with a dragonfly

f. 14 Saffron Crocus (Crocus sativus) with a fly

f. 15 St. Peter's Keys (Primula veris) with a blue, orange and red butterfly

f. 16 Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) with a caterpillar

f. 17 Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) without insect

f. 18 Primrose (Primula vulgaris) with a blue ladybeetle

f. 19 Common Daisy (Bellis perennis) with a dragonfly

f. 20 White Lily (Lilium candidum) with a dragonfly

f. 21 Heart's Ease Violet (Viola tricolor) with a dragonfly

f. 22 Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) with a brown fly

f. 23 Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) with a yellow and red butterfly

f. 24 Red Catchfly (Silene dioica) with a dragonfly

f. 25 Iris (Iris versicolor) with a dragonfly

f. 26 Borage (Borago officinalis) with a red and blue beetle

f. 27 Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) with a fly

f. 28 Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) with a caterpillar

f. 29 Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) with a blue and orange butterfly

f. 30 Autumn Buttercup (Ranunculus bullatus) with a holly blue

f. 31 St. Bernard's Lily (Anthericum liliago) with a blue ladybeetle

f. 32 Wild Pea (Pisum sativum) with a moth

f. 33 Cultivated Daisy (Bellis perennis) with a colourful fly

f. 34 Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris) with a brimstone butterfly

f. 35 Apothecary Rose (Rosa gallica) without insect

f. 35v Alphabet 1

f. 36 Alphabet 2

f. 37 White Rose of York (Rosa alba) with a stag beetle

f. 38 Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys) with a grapevine snail in a blue shell

f. 39 Fava Bean, fruits and flowers (Vicia faba) with a caterpillar

f. 40 Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum) with a dragonfly


　

　

　

　

　

　

Théophile Belin ; Maurice Burrus 1882–1959, Lausanne ; by descent, Private Collector, Switzerland ; [ Dr. Jörn Günther Antiquariat, Basel (sold 2019)]

Metropolitan Museum of Art. Recent Acquisitions, A Selection: 2018–20. Part I - Antiquity to the Late Eighteenth Century (2021). p. 20.