Ontwerp voor titelblad van een boek over tropisch planten 1673 - 1678

This 17th century design by Dutch artist Gerard de Lairesse is a preparatory sketch for a title page of a book on tropical plants. Depicted is a seated woman, likely representing a goddess of nature, holding a rake, amidst an ornate architectural setting and surrounded by figures tending to plants. The central position of the woman and the grand architectural backdrop emphasizes the importance of nature and its cultivation in the era of exploration and scientific advancement. This drawing, now in the Rijksmuseum, is a testament to the intersection of art and science in the Dutch Golden Age.