Squirrel Corn, Purple Trillium, Wild Crane’s Bill, Star Flower Chickweed (1868)

This remarkable piece by Agnes Fitzgibbon, titled "Squirrel Corn, Purple Trillium, Wild Crane’s Bill, Star Flower Chickweed" from 1868, illustrates a stunningly detailed study of native plants. The painting features the vibrant Purple Trillium, easily identifiable by its three striking, deep maroon petals that stand bold against its large, verdant leaves. Accompanying the trillium are the delicate, drooping bells of the Squirrel Corn, whose soft lilac flowers add a gentle contrast. Also present is the subtle beauty of the Wild Crane’s Bill, with its understated pink blooms extending gracefully on thin stems. To the right, sprouting modestly with tiny white flowers is the Star Flower Chickweed, completing this quartet of native flora.Each plant is rendered with both scientific precision and artistic sensitivity, capturing not only the vivid colors but also the intricate textures and forms of each species. Fitzgibbon’s work not only decorates but educates, bringing attention to the lush diversity of the natural world.