Studies of the leaves, blossoms, fruits and trunk of an English elm (Ulmus procera)
1788
Medium
Watercolor, over a sketch in black chalk. Double framing line in pen and black ink.
Dimensions
sheet: 21 1/8 x 14 13/16 in. (53.6 x 37.6 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 2009
Accession Number
2009.380
Tags
Art Historical Context
Created in 1788, Ludwig Pfleger’s “Studies of the leaves, blossoms, fruits and trunk of an English elm” offers a meticulous portrait of Ulmus procera. The large sheet assembles multiple views of the tree’s foliage, delicate flowers, winged seeds, and rugged bark, presenting the species as both a living organism and an object of careful observation. Pfleger worked in watercolor over a black-chalk underdrawing, a technique that allowed him to record subtle color shifts while maintaining structural accuracy. A double ink border frames the composition, lending the sheet the formal appearance of a...