Silk
by Connie Handscomb
Title
Silk
Artist
Connie Handscomb
Medium
Photograph - Photography - Fine Art
Description
As if you were on fire within,
The moon lives in the lining of your skin.
~Pablo Neruda
* --------------------------- *
Taken in natural light ; uncropped full frame; unaltered : Nature in all its natural splendour.
* --------------------------- *
Tulip
Genus : Tulipa spp.
Family : Liliaceae
The tulip grew wild abundantly in the central Asia mountains, in China & Mongolia, in North Africa, and later throughout Europe. Tulip designs have been found on pottery dating back to 2200 BC. So, while one might tend to think of Netherlands as home of the tulip, it was actually first cultivated in Turkey, grown in the palace gardens of the sultans, and is in fact the national flower of Hungary, Turkey & the "Tulip state" Kyrgyzstan. Turkey held the first tulip festivals - it represents abundance and indulgence - and Istanbul still hosts them. Its name is derived from the Turkish word for 'turban' (tulband) because of its shape. As a cultural symbol of the Ottoman Empire, it appeared on textiles, ceramics, woodcarvings and many other art forms.
The Flemish ambassador wrote of it, and it is believed a botanical professor, Charles de L'Ecluse, brought the tulip to Holland in 1593, having purchased it in Istanbul. The professor admired the work of the Flemish painter Paul Rubens, and after the tulip was propagated at Leiden University, it was shipped to him. Painters loved to paint the tulip. The Golden Age of Dutch painting was abundant with still life compositions of the tulip. Special tulip books were published, as were catalogues for wealthy collectors.
In 1630, one single bulb was exchanged for:
2 wheat loads, 4 rye loads, 4 fat oxen, 8 fat pigs, 12 fat sheep, 2 bogsheads of wine, 4 barrels of beer, 2 barrels of butter, 1,000 lbs. of cheese, a bed, a suit of clothes, and a silver beaker.
By the 17th c., 'Tulipmania' was in full swing: a single bulb was worth the equivalent price today of a house and a garden. The Dutch created formal geometrically shaped gardens and fountains in the Italian fashion, and the plants became "botanized" (grown for decorative qualities) whereas previously they had been kept by physicians and cooks. Initially the blooms were simple, with limited range of colours; then doubles began appearing, and the 'broken' tulips - much prized - those with intricately flamed, striped or feathered petals. No one knew then that their beauty was caused by a virus brought on by aphids, and even though the plant was inevitably weakened by it, the blooms became the most popular. It became known as the world's florists' flower, and the more brilliant and lively it was, the more it was loved.
Today, 15 groups with approximately 2,600 varieties of tulips exist, with Holland exporting 60% of the world's tulips. The species bulbs are, of course, more vigorous than the weaker hybrids which tend not to lose vigour after a year or two but whichever is used, it is now the 'people's flower' , cherished by all.
Sources:
Fifty Plants that changed the Course of History (Bill Laws)
Four Chefs, One Garden : Seasons Of West Coast Living [Roy]
Painterly Plants [Clare Foster; Photog.Ruber]
The Romantic Language Of Flowers [Davies; Saunders]
* --------------------------- *
♥ Heartfelt Gratitude to FAA Groups for featuring this image :
Visions Of Spring
All Flowers
Macro Photography
The Best Of Fine Arts
Tulip Macros
10 Plus
Flower Mania
Black Background and Color
The 200 Club
All Springtime Photography
Global Flower Photography [Plus group Pick Of The Day; thank you!]
Roses and Tulips
Uploaded
June 25th, 2014
Statistics
Viewed 630 Times - Last Visitor from Wilmington, DE on 04/15/2024 at 12:01 PM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet
Comments (35)
Connie Handscomb
Regina, I almost missed you; thank you! for featuring this image in Roses and Tulips :))
Connie Handscomb
Jasna, heaps of thanks! for the feature in Global Flowers Photography ... AND for the group Pick Of The Day feature;)))
Jasna Dragun
This delightful work is selected as "Pick For The Day" in the "Global Flowers Photography" 27.02. !!
Jasna Dragun
Congratulations on your feature this beautiful silk in the "Global Flowers Photography" !! LF
Maria Hunt
I missed this in the Contest. Such a beautiful capture, Conni. Congratulations on your top finish in the Black Background with color contest. A winner in this artist's eye! F/L
Connie Handscomb replied:
Maria, very many thanks to you! I honestly don't know where I finished, I forgot I'd entered .. & then forgot to check the results {I'm curious now!} ; your support is always a boost for me, thank you again! :))
Jan Bickerton
Stunning colour and beautiful texture in the petal detail. Congratulations on your feature in the 200 Club.
Connie Handscomb replied:
So wonderful of you to say, thank you so much, Jan! best to you in the New Year! :))
Barbie Corbett-Newmin
Congratulations on your feature in The 200 Club!
Connie Handscomb replied:
My late thanks to you, Barbie! hope you have a wonderful 2016: Happy New Year! :))
Connie Handscomb
More thanks to you, Becky! for featuring this image in Black Background and Color :))
Becky Lupe
Congratulations on your feature in FAA "Black Background and Color" FL
Connie Handscomb replied:
Truly grateful to you, Becky, for your generous support .. it is an enormous boost! :))
Connie Handscomb
Happy you liked this springtime bloom, Martin; thank you so much! for featuring this image in Flower Mania :))
Connie Handscomb
Just noticing, Naomi, that you've featured this image in The Best Of Fine Arts; thank you very much! :)))
Connie Handscomb
A big, big Thanks to you, Neal, for featuring this image in Macro Photography :))) {I must get a little more seasonal now.. .. hmm? .. }
Connie Handscomb
Naomi, thank you! for featuring this image in All Flowers ... very much appreciated! always! :)))