Framed Watercolour, 19th Century Fungi Study, Artist Unknown

Title: Fungi Study Sheet – Boletus and Agaricus
Artist: Unknown
Date: 19th century
Medium: Watercolour and ink on laid paper
Origin: Likely Central or Northern Europe
Dimensions: Approx. 30 × 25 cm (including frame)
 
 
This watercolour sheet features three detailed mushroom studies, identified in handwritten Latin script as Boletus rufus, Agaricus integer, and a third likely variation of Agaricus species. With a naturalist’s eye for form and subtle gradation, the artist has captured each specimen’s physical characteristics — from the stippled stem of the Boletus to the soft grey-violet tones of the smaller caps. The gill structures are partially illustrated, reflecting the conventions of 19th-century field documentation.
These works, created before the widespread use of colour printing, served both a scientific and aesthetic function — combining taxonomy with artistry. The use of Latin reflects the Linnaean classification system still dominant in the period, while the warm earth tones and lightly aged paper offer a sense of time passed.
Likely produced in a northern European context, this piece would have formed part of a naturalist’s teaching aid or personal archive. Today, it stands as a quietly beautiful testament to the era’s fascination with the natural world.