Tulipa gesneriana (have-tulipan) 1635 - 1664

Hans Simon Holtzbecker, painted this image of Tulipa gesneriana on paper, a single leaf from a large florilegium, or flower book. The image conjures the world of the Dutch Golden Age when "tulip mania" gripped the Netherlands. These striped tulips, known as "broken" tulips, were particularly prized. Ironically, their striking patterns were caused by a virus. The trade in tulip bulbs became wildly speculative, with prices soaring to exorbitant levels before the market crashed in 1637. The image is a precise rendering of a particular variety. Holtzbecker worked in a tradition of botanical illustration fostered by institutions like the University of Leiden's Hortus Botanicus, a center for scientific study and display. These images served both scientific and aesthetic purposes, documenting the natural world but also reflecting the cultural values attached to these exotic blooms. Studying the history of science and commerce helps us to understand the social forces that shaped the production and reception of this exquisite image.