Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

Study of an orchid, "Vanda Roxburgia"

before 1822
Not on view
The Sowerbys were an English family of naturalists, collectors, artists, and publishers who offered the public, amateur and professional alike, a large selection of important, original, illustrated works on natural history. James Sowerby, who drew this striking image of an orchid, founded the dynasty and is known for his illustrative work in the thirty-six volumes of James Smith's English Botany (1790-1814). For his pupils and other "Young Beginners" he wrote An Easy Introduction to Drawing Flowers according to Nature.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Study of an orchid, "Vanda Roxburgia"
  • Artist: James Sowerby (British, London 1757–1822 London)
  • Date: before 1822
  • Medium: Watercolor and gouache (bodycolor) over graphite on white parchment paper
  • Dimensions: Sheet: 16 1/2 x 13 1/4 in. (41.9 x 33.6 cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Museum Accession
  • Object Number: X.767
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

More Artwork
Study of a thistle, James Sowerby British, Watercolor and gouache (bodycolor) over graphite on buff-colored paper
Study of a thistle
James Sowerby
before 1822
Gamba Bow, Wood, British
Gamba Bow
British
first half 18th century
Design Drawings, Andor Weininger American, born Hungary, Watercolor, graphite, and pen and black ink on paper (a) ; Colored pencils and graphite on vellum paper (b)
Design Drawings
Designer Andor Weininger
1922–49
"Royal George" Cello, William Forster British, Spruce, maple, ebony, British
"Royal George" Cello
William Forster
1782
The Giralda, Seville, David Roberts British, Scottish, Watercolor and gouache (bodycolor) over graphite on blue-gray paper
The Giralda, Seville
David Roberts
1833

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.