Common Provence Rose Bud c. 1775

This watercolor and graphite rendering of a "Common Provence Rose Bud" was made by an anonymous artist, part of a movement invested in the aesthetic and scientific importance of botanical illustrations. The image’s precise lines and delicate washes reflect the 18th-century’s fascination with natural science, when botanical drawing became both an art and a tool for documenting the natural world. There was a growing institutional need for scientific accuracy. But also the work speaks to broader cultural values. The rose, with its rich perfume and beauty, was often seen as a symbol of love and luxury, associated with the wealthy and aristocratic. This kind of botanical art was often used in publications, functioning as a way to classify and understand plant life. To learn more, look at period gardening manuals, seed catalogs, and the archives of botanical gardens of the time. It is through these sources that we begin to understand the social and institutional life of a simple rose.