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A sprig of a tomato plant c. 1610

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Date

c. 1610

Description

A watercolour study of a tomato plant with red and green tomatoes, a separate orange tomato and a short stem of yellow flowers, leaves and a bud. Inscribed. The tomato was one of the most important plants brought back to Europe following the Spanish conquest of Mexico. Its modern English name comes from the Nahuatl tomatl, but it was commonly known as the 'love apple' until the early nineteenth century. This drawing is part of an album concerning medicinal plants, compiled in Rome around 1610. When first imported to Europe, the tomato was considered as a medicinal and ornamental plant, but it was soon discovered that tomatoes were also good to eat.
Alternate title: 'Tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.'
Descriptive Medium: 'Watercolour and bodycolour over black chalk', 'black chalk, bodycolour', 'watercolour painting'
Additional Makers: Collection of Cassiano Dal Pozzo (1588-1657) (collector)