Found in an 1886 book about needlework as art, this gothic sunflower drawing is both dramatic and a little grungy. Simple black and white lines delineate the shapes in this vintage flower image. I have to admit that were it not for the description by the author, I might not have recognized this as a sunflower. Even the author describes it as a transfigured rose.
This design is actually from Christ’s College Chapel in Cambridge England. The author, in talking about the sunflower as the “sun’s emblem” suggested that they do not “take” if ordered and ranged. They should be naturalistic and remind us of a disorderly cottage garden.
I guess, this gothic sunflower drawing does imply a bit of disorder as it appears three different flowers have entwined themselves together to create the design.
This image is copyright free and in the public domain anywhere that extends copyrights 70 years after death or at least 120 years after publication when the original illustrator is unknown.
