The Water-Lily.
In the illustration of the water-lily, the writer has conventionalized it by curving the stem around the flower and duplicating the same, always making the stem meet the next lily, then inclosing the flowers in two straight lines, so forming a water-lily border. Now, girls, you can realize how very simple it is to apply botany to art, and make for yourselves new and original designs.
The knowledge of plants is not only interesting but useful in connection with art, in selecting and determining appropriate designs for wood-carving, hammered brass, or any kind of ornamentation or decoration. The cross-section of some trees will furnish very good designs and the differently formed roots of plants and flowers will aid you in ornamental art.
So we find that Nature offers us exquisite designs, in many shapes and forms, and we have only to stretch out our hand and take what we want.
“Beauty doth truly inhabit everywhere,” for “it is mind alone that is beautiful, and in perceiving beauty, we only contemplate the shadow of our own affections.”
