Phacelia (Phacelia parryi)

Art Historical Context

Mary Vaux Walcott'sPhacelia (Phacelia parryi)*, painted in 1935, the delicate beauty of this wildflower native to the western United States. As a pioneering artist and naturalist, Walcott renowned for her meticulous botanical, blending scientific accuracy with artistic elegance. This painting, gifted by the artist to the Smithsonian American Museum, exemplifies her dedication to documenting North America's flora during the early 20th century, a time when field science and art intersected to preserve vanishing natural wonders. Rendered in the medium of painting—likely watercolor, her signature...