Blauwe druifjes (Muscari botryoides)

The fact that the Historia Naturalis albums were sold only three times in four centuries accounts for the excellent condition of the individual drawings. The colours – like the bright blue and softer pink in this sheet – are as pristine as the day they were applied. These grape hyacinths may be one of the many botanical drawings in the albums made by the Delft flower painter Elias Verhulst, from whom De Boodt commissioned around 200 drawings.