Dutchman's Breeches

by Gordon Beningfield

Title

Dutchman's Breeches

Artist

Gordon Beningfield

Medium

Painting - Watercolor On Watercolor Paper

Description

Found in rich woods and ravines, the dainty flowers of Dutchman's breeches blooms from April to May. The flowers have four petals united in two pairs. Two larger white or pinkish petals form the "breeches," while a smaller pair of yellow-tinged petals encloses the stigma. The genus name, derived from the Greek words dis -- twice -- and centron -- spur -- describes the form of the flower. The species epithet, cucullaria -- which means hoodlike -- refers to the smaller pair of petals. Bumblebees pollinate the flowers as they sip the nectar inside the spurs with their long proboscises. Unable to reach the nectar, other bees with shorter proboscises can only collect the pollen. The highly dissected, bluish green foliage of Dutchman's breeches makes a pleasing contrast to the delicate flowers. The leaves have been used in folk medicine as a poultice to treat skin ailments.Dutchman's breeches is closely related to the garden favorite, bleeding hearts.

Gordon Beningfield was born in London, but spent his childhood in rural Hertfordshire. He began his career as an ecclesiastical artist, and his commissions included engravings of seven glass Memorial Windows for the Brigade of Guards in the Guard's Chapel, London. Although he began to build a reputation for himself as a wildlife artist in the early 1960s, it wasn't until 1974 that a Look Stranger television program brought his work to the notice of a larger audience. After that, Beningfield was regularly in the public eye with periodic appearances on the BBC's In the Country program. The quality of his work, of course, steadily enhanced his reputation as one of Britain's leading painters of the countryside. His work first appeared in book form in 1978 with the publication of Beningfield's Butterflies, followed by Beningfield's Countryside. Many of his works have been displayed in international exhibits. His art was first immortalized on postage stamps in 1981 when his paintings of Britain's butterflies were chosen to be featured on that year's special British stamp issue. His appearances on television and publication of books made him a familiar artist in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

Please note the "Fine Art America" watermark will not appear on the painting or any print reproduction.

Artwork Copyright © 1991 Wind River Studios Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the Copyright. WRSH Stock Number XB13820

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April 6th, 2022

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