These 5-petal flowers remind me of petunias. Although the plate looks as if it were from a scientific work or natural history, I found it used as a page spacer. The source is an 1876 2-volume work entitled “Les fleurs animées”. The primary illustrations depicting French ladies of society as flowers are quite famous. But, I think the real treasure is all of the black and white engravings in between.
Here we have a large and stunning engraving with four blooming 5-petal flowers. Several buds and leaves provide more clues as to the actual species. But, my guess is petunias. Add a bit of color (and maybe remove the two numbers) and it could become a truly stunning piece to add to your own projects. Or, when you’re done, it might be worthy of framing and hanging on your wall.
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.
