Horizontal Panel with a Row of Flowers Above a Frieze with Figures in a Landscape, from Livre Nouveau de Fleurs Tres-Util 1645

This 1645 engraving by Nicolas Cochin titled “Horizontal Panel with a Row of Flowers Above a Frieze with Figures in a Landscape, from Livre Nouveau de Fleurs Tres-Util” is a fine example of botanical illustration. The top half of the work features a row of six distinct flowers, carefully rendered in detail, while the bottom half depicts a picturesque landscape scene. This work was originally part of a larger illustrated book, “Livre Nouveau de Fleurs Tres-Util,” a collection of flower illustrations designed for practical use, such as by artisans who incorporated these designs into their craft. The careful detail and precision of the work point to a period where the study of the natural world was flourishing.