Double Tulips, Plate 54

This chromolithographic plate from A. C. Van Eeden's *Flora of Haarlem* showcases four cultivated double tulip varieties in full botanical detail. Artist Arentine H. Arendsen renders each bloom with precise observation of petal structure and coloration—from pale yellow edged petals to deep crimson with golden striations. The work exemplifies 19th-century horticultural documentation, when Dutch tulip breeding achieved remarkable diversity. Chromolithography allowed accurate color reproduction essential to botanical illustration, making such plates valuable records for gardeners and botanists alike. The composition's clear arrangement and labeled specimens reflect the period's systematic approach to cataloging cultivated flora.