I have finally forwarded Mauro's info to the Art Historian
Hi,
I have finally forwarded Mauro's response to Kim, one of the Art Historians at the New York Historical Society. we will see what she says. In passing she suggested that Heade may have possibly painted the orchid on sight in brazil, not knowing that it was Cattleya Labiatta...
Sorry it has taken me so long to continue the dialog on this one.