Prunus persica Oliver
1905
Ellen Isham Schutt captured the fuzzy, sun-blushed skin of this 'Oliver' peach with scientific precision back in 1905, noting in the margins that it came from a Mrs. Walter Oliver's tree. Notice how she sliced the bottom fruit open to reveal that dramatic, deep-red flesh radiating from the pit—a detail that tells botanists exactly what variety this is. These weren't just pretty pictures; they were crucial records for the USDA, helping farmers identify and preserve thousands of fruit varieties before color photography could do the job justice.
- Technique
- Watercolor
- Material
- Paper