Plate, from New Suite of Notebooks of Ideal Flowers for Use by Draftsmen and Painters c. 1795

This watercolor on paper, "Plate, from New Suite of Notebooks of Ideal Flowers for Use by Draftsmen and Painters" (c. 1795) by Anne Allen (1750-1808), is a botanical illustration that showcases the artist's meticulous attention to detail. Allen's "Ideal Flowers" series aimed to provide draftsmen and painters with accurate and aesthetically pleasing representations of flora, influencing the development of botanical illustration. The delicate rendering of the flowers, with their varied hues and textures, exemplifies the stylistic preferences of the late 18th century. This piece, now housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, continues to inspire both artists and botanists alike.