laila/cattleya painting - what is it?

[jason woodrue]

Hi all,

we just put this painting on display in the museum where i work (it is my favorite painting in our collection). anyway, the artists last name is Heade. the curator, Kim, says an expert has identified the orchid in the past. I asked her for a jpeg of the image to ask y'all your ID opinion of the species? I told her I'd get back to her with my orchid friends opinion on its identification. I do not know what it has been identified as, but the text accompanying the exhibit does state that it is from Brazil. So what do we think?

Hi Mike, here's an image of the Heade, with the usual caveat that it should not be used for publication. I found out the species has been identified and will let you know -- we'll see if your fellow orchid fans agree!
Kimberly Orcutt, Ph.D.
Associate Curator of American Art