Ophrys fuciflora (drone-flueblomst) 1649 - 1659

"Ophrys fuciflora (drone-flueblomst)" is a watercolor painting created by Danish artist Hans Simon Holtzbecker between 1649 and 1659. The artwork, currently housed at the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst, showcases a meticulous botanical illustration of six bee orchids (Ophrys fuciflora). The painting is a testament to Holtzbecker's mastery of botanical illustration, capturing the delicate details of the orchid's flowers, stems, and roots with remarkable precision. The artwork is a prime example of the 17th-century scientific interest in natural history and the development of botanical illustration as a means of documenting and classifying plants.