A Stalk of Lilies with Six Blooms

Art Historical Context

Philipp Otto Runge’s delicate drawing captures a single stalk of lilies bearing six elegant blooms, rendered with remarkable precision and sensitivity. Created in 1808, the work reflects the early nineteenth-century interest in nature as a source of spiritual and symbolic meaning. Lilies, long associated with purity and renewal, here become a quiet study of form and growth, inviting viewers to appreciate both botanical beauty and deeper resonances. The medium—pen and black ink over graphite on very light green laid paper—allows for fine, expressive lines that trace the curving petals and slender leaves with clarity. The subtle green tone of the sheet adds a gentle warmth, enhancing the organic quality of the subject without overpowering the inkwork. At just under 30 centimeters tall, the drawing rewards close looking, revealing Runge’s careful layering of media to achieve both structure and softness. As part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection through the Wolfgang Ratjen bequest, this sheet offers a glimpse into Runge’s practice of combining scientific observation with poetic intent. It stands as an intimate example of how artists of his era used drawing to explore the natural world’s quiet grandeur.