WANDER INTO SOMETHING NEW
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Bring Home A Botanical
Images in the public domain are without any copyright restrictions and are free to use.
ILLUSTRATION BY
MARY VAUX WALCOTT
WHAT’S IN
WHAT’S IN THIS NOOK?
Vintage artworks, free for all
Museum collections to get you started
Framing, done better
THIS NOOK?
Vintage botanical art is usually old enough to be out of copyright restrictions, making it possible to download and use them however you like. Make sure that the images are in the public domain, open access, or explicitly stated as being free of all copyright restrictions.
Many art museums have large collections of open access images. Here are a few to get started
The Getty (Los Angeles)
Illustration by Unknown
The Getty (Los Angeles) shares high-resolution images of public-domain artworks through its Open Content Program from illuminated manuscripts to scientific drawings.
British Library (on Flickr Commons)
Illustration By E. L. M.
British Library has over a million public-domain scans, with dedicated flora albums; all free to explore, download, and remix.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC)
Illustration by After Sydenham Edwards
The Met's Open Access program makes over 400,000 artworks freely downloadable in high resolution, from Renaissance masterpieces to delicate botanical prints — all released into the public domain.
Biodiverity Heritage Library (BHL)
Illustration by Erlangen :F. Enke
A global consortium of natural history institutions, the BHL offers millions of digitized pages from historic scientific texts — with exquisite botanical and zoological illustrations available to download in detail.
The Smithsonian Institution
Illustration by Mary Vaux Walcott
Smithsonian is the world's largest museum, education and research complex, holding a colossal collection of over 150 million objects, artifacts, and specimens.
Old world botanicals, newly at home. A free and lovely way to let nature into your nook.
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Framing, done better.
1. Play with cropping — Instead of centering every image, try close crops or asymmetrical placements to highlight unique leaf shapes or petals.
2.Match the frame to the art — Light woods give a natural, airy feel; black or gold frames add drama and sophistication.
3.Use mounts for breathing space — A wide mount creates a gallery look, while a narrow one keeps the focus tight and intimate.
4.Consider colour balance — Choose a frame tone that either echoes the botanical hues or contrasts them to make the artwork pop.
5.Think in multiples — Botanical art shines in sets. Arrange a series with consistent framing but varied crops for a cohesive yet dynamic display.
Lush & ColourfulNatural Decor
