Hyacinths: King of the Blues and Madame Van Der Hoop

This botanical illustration from A.C. Van Eeden's *Flora of Haarlem* depicts two cultivated hyacinth varieties side by side. The deep indigo florets of 'King of the Blues' contrast with the pale yellow blooms of 'Madame Van Der Hoop,' their dense flower spikes rising from paired green leaves. Rendered by Dutch artist Arentine H. Arendsen, the plate demonstrates nineteenth-century horticultural documentation during Holland's dominance in commercial bulb cultivation. The careful chromolithographic rendering captures both botanical accuracy and the aesthetic appeal that made these flowers prized among European gardeners.