Page 233 - Eye of the beholder

BOTANICAL DRAWING COMPANY SCHOOL 18TH CENTURY
Like the ornithological study of birds by the British through the renderings of birds in water colours, similarly is the representation of the flora that has been detailed with the seed, the bud, the flower and the leaves. It has the mechanical clarity in its representation, as the end purpose was knowledge generation.
The floral species under study is known as Box-Leaved Barleria and is endemic to peninsular India, belonging to the acanthus family. It is essentially a shrub which is about six feet tall, with strong spines under the leaves. The colour of the flower is purple blue and is produced towards the upper part of the stem. A peculiarity of this shrub is that the leaves are nearly stalk less, with scattered hairs on both sides.
The pictorial composition of Box-Leaved Barleria is delineated with clarity, wherein the underside of the leaf is also painted to give a comprehensive idea in its study. The water colour technique has been explored to take the maximum advantage in making its rendering precise and clear with all the details. Though just a sprig of flower it has its visual aesthetic that is equally appealing and attractive with its decorative character.
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