Anon. Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense) Flower

Flora of Hong Kong, Singapore & Australia: Watercolours 1886–1890

This watercolour forms part of an interesting collection of botanical watercolours that we have for sale dated 1886 to 1890. The anonymous, likely British, artist appears to have spent time documenting the flora in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore during this period.

Locations noted on the paintings include 'Peak', 'S. Morrison Hill', 'West Point' and 'Stone Cutter's Island' in Hong Kong, and 'Singapore'. The artist documents plant species that by the late 19th century were found commonly in these tropical and subtropical locations, including Hong Kong Pavetta, Tiu Chung Fa (Chinabells), Chinese Violet (Asystasia gangetica) and Asiatic Dayflower (Commelina communis). Some of the species were non-native plants introduced as ornamentals for parks and gardens, evidencing the influence of British colonial officials on Hong Kong landscaping and flora in the 19th century.

Other paintings in the collection depict native Australian species, such as Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha), Common Fringe-myrtle (Calytrix tetragona), and the shrub Hakea laurina (Pin-cushion Hakea) endemic to Western Australia. It is unclear whether the artist painted these in Australia, or whether the species were cultivated in Hong Kong. An Australian subject is dated 1886, whilst the Hong Kong / Singapore subjects are dated 1889 to 1890, so it is perhaps likely that the artist was living in different locations across this period.