Cypripedium Boxalli Atratum - Boxall's Paphiopedilum

by Henry Frederick Conrad Sander

This specific botanical illustration of Henry Frederick Conrad Sander, who was called the "Orchid King," is an excellent example of orchidology from the late Victorian period. Instead of merely depicting orchids, he illustrated the unique "personality" of each flower through full-scale lithography.

The Cypripedium Boxalli Atratum (now Paphiopedilum Villosum Var. Boxallii) stands out among other orchid prints because of its dramatic color scheme. As opposed to delicate pastel orchids of that time, the "Atratum" type is characterized by its intense dark mahogany spots and highly polished surface.