324 ~ MAYPOP, Mary Walcott 1925 Antique Color Art Print

Pricing & History

Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
Sold Date
Source eBay

MAYPOP ARTIST: Mary Walcott !! This lovely artistic antique botanical flower print, circa 1925, was extracted from an old folio of flower prints whose goal was to present all the wild flowers native to North America at that time. The species are presented in more scientific presentation used by biologists and scientists, which is as a close-up of the flower on its own on a white background. This famous artist has captured the exquisite detail in the leaves, petals, stem and flower buds. Given the changing world climate and decline in forest and wildlands over the last century, the flowering plants from this series are in many cases quite rare in their wild ecological habitat and are most likely found being cultivated in a nursery or greenhouse. Once framed, this print would make a fine shabby chic interior decorating accent in a kitchen or bathroom. Great gift for the gardener or landscape architect. DESCRIPTION OF FLOWER: Passiflora incarnata Linnaeus The Passionflower Family of three hundred and fifty species is exclusively American, and nearly all the species are inhabitants of the tropics. Only a few are found in the United States and of these the maypop is hardy as far north as Virginia and even farther northward. It is a vigorous vine, often growing thirty feet in length, with many tendrils and rich green leaves. The peculiarly scented flowers attract universal attention by their complicated structure and coloring. The various organs of the flower suggested to the devout Spaniards the objects associated with the passion of our Lord, and the Latin name was given in consequence. The fruit is as large as a hens egg and pale yellow. Its smooth rind is very tough, and the many and large seeds are surrounded by a juicy sweet pulp, which is eaten by children. Some of the tropical passionflowers are highly esteemed for their edible fruits of superior flavor. The common name of the plant refers to the loud popping noise that it makes when squeezed until it bursts. Tennessee has adopted it as the State flower. The maypop grows from Florida to Texas and northward to Virginia, southern Indiana, and Missouri. It is easily cultivated, but is not safe to introduce into small gardens, because of its spreading tendencies. The sketch was made from specimens secured near Savannah, Georgia. ABOUT THE ARTIST: Mary Morris Vaux received a set of watercolor paints at age eight and began experimenting with painting flowers. The Philadelphia family spent summers in the Canadian Rockies where Mary and her brothers studied mineralogy and recorded the flow of glaciers in paintings. Mary returned to western Canada almost every summer and became an active mountain climber and outdoorswoman. One summer a botanist asked her to paint a rare blooming arnica; her success in recording the flower encouraged her to concentrate on botanical illustration. For many years, on foot or horseback, she explored difficult terrain looking for important flowering species to paint. In 1913 Mary Vaux met Charles Doolittle Walcott, then secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, while both were in the Canadian Rockies--she painting and hiking, he conducting geological research. After marrying the next year, the couple spent several months each season in the Canadian Rockies where he continued his studies and she painted hundreds of watercolor studies of native flowers. At the urging of botanists and wild flower enthusiasts, in 1925 a selection of more than four hundred of Mary Walcott's illustrations were published by the Smithsonian Institution. Currently 791 watercolor drawings by Walcott are in the collection of the National Museum of American Art. ARTIST'S DESCRIPTION OF HER ARTWORK: Wild flowers were a joy and inspiration in the happy days of childhood when I was taught to observe and sketch them under the direction of a skilled artist. Years passed before a botanical friend at Glacier, British Columbia, asked me to portray a rare and perishable alpine f... read more

Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.

Flag item for content or copyright

If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.

If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.