Prairie Thistle (Cirsium undulatum)

Art Historical Context

Mary Vaux Walcott's *Prairie Thistle (irsium undulatum, painted in 1923, the delicate beauty of this native North American wildflower with scientific precision and artistic grace. As a gifted amateur botanist and artist, Walcott specialized in watercolor illustrations of flora, blending her passions for nature and fine art. This painting, now part of the Smithsonian American Museum's collection through the artist's own gift, exemplifies her commitment to documenting America's botanical diversity during the early 20th century. work highlights the prairie thistle's undulating leaves and spiky ...