Chilli pepper, sweet pepper, ginger and clary sage, Alexander Marshal, c. 1675-82

A page of watercolours of three plants including a whole ginger plant, two types of capsicum or peppers and the purple-leaved claire. Sweet peppers or capsicums, were introduced to europe from the americas in the first half of the sixteenth century. Ginger had been imported for centuries and was first grown in europe around 1605. The ginger plant depicted here was cultivated by marshal’s friend henry compton, bishop of london, in his garden at fulham palace. Provenance: presented to george iv. Date: c. 1675-82. Dimensions: 45.8 x 34.1 cm (sheet of paper). Medium: watercolour. Chilli pepper, sweet pepper, ginger and clary sage (RCIN 924413-1)