Deborah Gillingham. Nelumbium. 1870.

Deborah Passmore Gillingham Lilies and Magnolias Watercolors on Paper 1869/1870 Paper Size: 18x13½ Deborah Passmore Gillingham’s Lilies and Magnolias watercolors celebrate the botanical beauty of 19th-century America with exquisite attention to detail and artistry. Painted between 1869 and 1870 on high-quality J. Whatman wove paper, these works showcase lifelike depictions of lilies and magnolias—native plants rich in both cultural and symbolic significance. Gillingham’s delicate rendering of magnolia petals and lily stamens reflects not only her technical skill but also her deep appreciation for natural history and beauty. Each watercolor is accompanied by a meticulously designed historiated title page, adding an extra layer of elegance to the collection and underscoring its artistic value. An often underappreciated figure in American botanical illustration, Gillingham contributed significantly to the documentation of native plant life at a time when botanical art was evolving into bo