Philipp Otto Runge - A Stalk of Lilies with Six Blooms

During the 19th century, there was a great deal of interest in botany and a proliferation of botanical illustrations being produced. Many famous botanical illustrators, such as Pierre-Joseph Redouté and John James Audubon, were active during this period and produced some of the most iconic and influential botanical illustrations of all time. Botanical illustrations from the 19th century often featured detailed, accurate representations of flowers and other plants, and were created using a variety of mediums, including pencil, ink, watercolor, and colored pencils. Some of the most beautiful botanical illustrations from this period were created using watercolor, which allowed the artist to capture the delicate, transparent qualities of flowers and other plants. In addition to being used for scientific purposes, botanical illustrations from the 19th century were also highly prized for their beauty and were often used to decorate homes and other public spaces. Many of the most famous botanical illustrations from this period are still admired and collected today for their beauty and historical significance.

Runge was born in Wolgast, Germany, and showed an early talent for drawing and painting. He studied with the painter Johann David Schubert and later attended the Copenhagen Academy of Fine Arts. Runge is best known for his theory of colour, which he developed in his book 'Farbenkugel'. In this work he proposed a three-dimensional model of colour based on the primary colours red, yellow and blue. He also introduced the concept of complementary colours and the idea that colours could express emotions and moods. Runge's paintings were influenced by Romanticism, a movement that emphasised emotion, individualism and nature. He often painted landscapes and portraits, using vivid colours and bold brushstrokes. Sadly, Runge's career was cut short by his early death at the age of 33. However, his contributions to colour theory have had a lasting influence on art and design.