Study of Cosmos
late 19th century
Classification
nature studies
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Starling W. Childs and Ward Cheney
Accession Number
1937-59-8
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Study of Cosmos** by Sophia L.field (American, 1862–1929) offers a captivating glimpse into late 19th-century American studies. Created during an era when artists increasingly turned to the natural world for inspiration—blending scientific precision with aesthetic beauty—this work reflects the Victorian fascination with botany. Crownfield, active amid the rise of women in the arts, specialized in such detailed observations, capturing the delicate forms of flora like the cosmos flower, known for its starburst petals and airy elegance. Classified as a nature study and housed in the Smithsonia...