Swallowing just one black berry from deadly nightshade, the unsuspecting victim could die.
Belladonna, broomsticks and brain chemistry, RSC Education
Indian ink on paper
Belladonna II
In 16th-century Italy, women applied eye drops prepared from deadly nightshade because it dilated the pupil, which was thought to make them look beautiful. Atropine eye drops are still used by ophthalmologists when they dilate a patient’s pupils to get a good view of the retina during an eye exam.
Ink on paper
Belladonna
Belladonna means ‘beautiful woman’ as it was used by Renaissance women to dilate their pupils. Atropa is in reference to Atropos, one of the Three Fates in Greek mythology who snipped the thread of a person’s life and decided their death.
ink drawing on paper