Exilaria crystallinum, parasitic (1843-1853)

Anna Atkins is the artist behind "Exilaria crystallinum, parasitic", dated 1843-1853. Background on Plants & Animals: Naturalists and artists often worked together, especially on voyages and in published surveys of flora and fauna. Images of plants and animals run from medieval herbals and bestiaries to the scientific illustration of the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries. Context for 1843-1853: The first half of the nineteenth century moved from Neoclassicism to Romanticism, which placed emotion, nature, and the sublime at the centre of painting. The invention of lithography around 1796 and its spread in these decades made printed images cheaper and more varied. It is listed in the Plants & Animals collection. The image is in portrait orientation.

"Exilaria crystallinum, parasitic" is shown in the onlly.art catalogue for reference and browsing. A portrait format suits narrow wall spaces, hallways, and the area beside a door or window. Flora and fauna subjects make an interior feel softer and more alive, adding a natural rhythm that works well in both traditional and contemporary spaces. Browsing works by the same artist, or from the same period, is a good way to compare styles before choosing what suits your space.

English, 1799–1871

If you like the visual language of Anna Atkins, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.