Written by Tone Wraber, 1989
Abstract
The paper concerns watercolours of plants compiled in the 18th volume of Valvasor’s graphic collection, which have not been scientifically examined so far. Of the total (164 paginated leaves), 122 are watercolours of plants. They are quite simple but faithful to their live originals, and their colours are impressively accurate. There are no real grounds for questioning whether they were in fact made on Valvasor’s Carniolan soil. For some of them, indeed, this can be claimed with certainty. Drawings of plants referred to in Valvasor’s work Die Ehre des Gerzogthums Crain (cultivated species: cereal leguminous plants, edible fruits of cultivated and wild plants; medicinal plants; “magic” herbs) as well as drawings of common plants and meadows, shrubs, and forests, and of some weeds, i.e., plants from sites affected by man, are well represented. The drawing of Knautia fleischmanii is worth of special attention. Since this plant is endemic to Slovenia, its drawing could have been executed only in this region.