Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Orchid Plate

Scientific plate of many Orchid genera
Voting period ends on 31 Oct 2013  at 03:12:10 (UTC)
 * Reason:Depicts subject well, is visually attractive
 * Articles in which this image appears:Orchidaceae, Introduction to evolution, Paphiopedilum argus
 * FP category for this image:Featured_pictures/Plants/Flowers
 * Creator:Ernst Haeckel


 * Support as nominator --Dougie WII (talk) 03:12, 21 October 2013 (UTC)
 * Support. Its caption needs to take into account the type of art form that it represents. It is a botanical study and a coloured lithograph. It is a fine example of coloured lithography in which a number of engraved stones have been used to print the colours (as against a "hand coloured" lithograph, which is only printed in black.)..... I have just looked at the description page, and discovered that the book and artist are named as a "source" but not as a description. The description treats the illustration as if it was not an illustration, but as if it actually is a collection of orchids i.e. the orchids are listed as they probably were in the book. But what this is is an artwork, remarkable and excellent for being a good depiction of the subject and a good piece of artistry and craftsmanship. Amandajm (talk) 11:33, 22 October 2013 (UTC)
 * Comment I have tried to address your concerns. -- Dougie WII (talk) 04:59, 23 October 2013 (UTC)


 * Question - Is this being nominated for EV for being an illustration as an illustration (say, in the Kunstformen der Natur article) or for representing the different orchid species? In the former case, this would have fairly low EV as there are more than 20 images in that gallery. In the latter case, photographs would be more accurate and thus more encyclopedic. I agree this is a stunning illustration, but I don't see the EV. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 14:53, 22 October 2013 (UTC)
 * Comment - I did not upload this picture, but I did nominate it because it is a fine illustration of the Orchid family and is the info box picture for the main page Orchidaceae, the largest or second largest family of flowering plants in the world (that's still under debate) so it is certainly a notable subject. Scientific lithographs like this have a rich history and are still used to illustrate species, some of which have never been photographed. I believe this illustration is an acceptable encyclopedic reference to the Orchid family. Personally, I am not that interested in editing articles focusing on lithographs, but other editors could certainly use it in articles on that subject. Dougie WII (talk) 04:18, 23 October 2013 (UTC)
 * My issue is simple: this is clearly not a natural formation. The ranges of all these species may not even overlap. In that case, how does it give EV to the orchidae article? — Crisco 1492 (talk) 08:15, 23 October 2013 (UTC)
 * It was never meant to be a natural scene, it's meant to depict a wide variety of Orchids that live in vastly different areas, some in South America, some in Asia, some in Africa, etc. Since the main article it is used in covers the entire Orchid family, members of which live on every continent except Antarctica, it is of encyclopedic value to that subject. -- Dougie WII (talk) 20:07, 23 October 2013 (UTC)
 * A collage of photographs (like in ethnic group articles) or a single photograph changed at regular intervals (like at Frog) would likely have more EV. Though this is not intended as a natural scene, it could be misread as being a natural scene. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 21:50, 23 October 2013 (UTC)
 * With millions of people using Wikipedia, I think there will always be someone who misinterprets a picture or part of the text of an article -- that is unavoidable. I believe this is clear enough for the average person to understand the nature of the image and gain encyclopedic value from it. If you so strongly disagree, then vote against it. -- Dougie WII (talk) 23:17, 23 October 2013 (UTC)
 * The caption needs to state state simply and clearly that this is a botanical artwork representing species of orchids from around the world. Dougie WII's comment that 19th century lithographs like this are still used to illustrate species, some of which have never been photographed, is a very pertinent comment on the nature and importance of botanical art.
 * The picture is significant for two reasons, what it is and what it so excellently represents. If anybody misses the "from around the world" bit, then it's their problem. Floral arrangements, any floral arrangement, (a bridal bouquet, for example, or a Dutch flower painting of the 17th century ), normally contains species from many different countries.  This image is arranged much like a large bouquet. There is no suggestion whatsoever that they are all growing together.
 * The description now addresses the issue of it being a representation.  Amandajm (talk) 02:03, 30 October 2013 (UTC)

--Armbrust The Homunculus 06:27, 31 October 2013 (UTC)