Fritillaria imperialis (kejserkrone) 1649 - 1659

Hans Simon Holtzbecker made this image of the Fritillaria imperialis, or crown imperial, at an unknown date using tempera and watercolour. Holtzbecker was working in Northern Europe at a time when botanical illustration was becoming increasingly popular. This was thanks in no small part to the rise of scientific societies and a corresponding interest in natural history. The images were highly prized not just for scientific purposes, but also among wealthy patrons who collected such images in albums and displayed them as status symbols of education and worldliness. It is interesting to consider how the crown imperial, a flower associated with royalty, might have appealed to the aristocratic tastes of the era. Understanding the social context in which an artwork was created – including who commissioned it, who viewed it, and what purposes it served – helps us understand its meaning more fully. To know more, we can consult letters, diaries, inventories, and other archival documents.