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ALEXANDER MARSHAL (C. 1620-82)
Passion flower with ladybirds and unidentified caterpillar, variegated autumn crocus, cyclamen leaf, humble plant, unidentified caterpillar, and caterpillar of cockchafer
c. 1650-82RCIN 924410
Several of the species depicted here had religious associations. The passion flower is so named because its parts were thought to symbolise Christ’s Passion. The name ladybird derives from ‘Our Lady’, the Virgin Mary, and an early name for the autumn crocus, at centre left, was ‘the Son before the Father’.
