Passion flower with ladybirds and unidentified caterpillar, variegated autumn crocus, cyclamen leaf, humble plant, unidentified caterpillar, and caterpillar of cockchafer, Alexander Marshal, c. 1650-82

A page of watercolours of plants including a passion flower with two ladybirds and a caterpillar, a sensitive plant in a garden pot, a cyclamen leaf, a chequered meadow saffron of naples and two caterpillars. The passion flower is a native of the americas and was first cultivated in europe in 1612. The flower was claimed to symbolise the passion of christ, with its parts representing the crown of thorns, the whipping post, the three nails and so on. Provenance: presented to george iv. Date: c. 1650-82. Dimensions: 45.5 x 33.0 cm (sheet of paper). Medium: watercolour. Passion flower with ladybirds and unidentified caterpillar, variegated autumn crocus, cyclamen leaf, humble plant, unidentified caterpillar, and caterpillar of cockchafer (RCIN 924410-2)