Hesperis matronalis (almindelig aftenstjerne) 1635 - 1664

This botanical illustration of Hesperis matronalis, or Dame’s Rocket, was rendered by Hans Simon Holtzbecker. The artwork features three stems with white, pink, and lavender blooms. Flowers, throughout history, have taken on varied symbolical roles from emblems of innocence and symbols of beauty to representations of love, death and resurrection. Note that each of the stems in Holtzbecker's illustration holds unique characteristics. Like the figures in a family portrait, the botanist presents them as individuals within a collective. The emotional and psychological weight of such a portrait taps into our collective subconscious. In ancient Greece, the depiction of flora was often associated with deities and mythological narratives, whereas, in the Renaissance, a renewed interest in classical antiquity led to a surge in detailed botanical studies, each blossom imbued with layers of significance. What stories might these particular blooms whisper to you?