Seville Orange

Le Moyne de Morgues, Jacques, 1533?-1588 · [ca. 1580]

Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues, a French artist living in Elizabethan England, specialized in naturalistic florilegia. While living in Blackfriars, London during the 16th century, Le Moyne painted dozens of plants and animals native to English gardens; however, his work remained largely undiscovered until the 20th century. These meticulous recreations of Le Moyne's watercolor and gouache pieces highlight the balance between science and art during the sixteenth century. Texture and color flourish in this recreation of Jacques Le Moyne's Seville Orange, c. 1580. Masterfully employing shading techniques, Le Moyne concocts realistic stippled rinds, waxy stems, and swirling orange flesh. Le Moyne's simulation of volume is so successful that the topmost orange appears tangible. Vivid orange hues contrast with softer greens, especially against the stark white background, preserved for its scientific accuracy. As part of a series of plants commissioned by a wealthy English patron, the painting seeks to portray the orange and its cross-section as faithfully as possible. Le Moyne had previously studied Seville oranges, as evidenced by his work Lemon and Orange Fruits which hangs in the Victoria and Albert Museum. In comparison to his earlier piece, Seville Orange remains true to the plant's form but incorporates a strategic composition. The palpable volume and texture of Seville Orange distinguishes the watercolor and gouache study as a naturalistic marvel.