Final answer:
The most impactful historical floral period on modern floral design is likely from Ptolemaic and early Roman Egypt, where art combined geometrics, florals, and animal motifs. The detail-oriented floral still life paintings of the nineteenth century and historic landscape designs have also contributed significantly to the evolution of modern floral design aesthetics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The historical floral period with the most impact on modern floral design may be argued to be the time from the Ptolemaic and early Roman Egypt period, extending from about the third to the first century BCE. Here we find a union of geometric, floral, and animal motifs in pottery influenced by the expanding Mediterranean world. The authenticity of these motifs remained influential, as they continued to be popular into the Coptic period and persisted on pottery until the Arab conquest in the seventh century CE.
Moreover, the emergence of floral still life paintings in oils, which became a common arrangement in the nineteenth century, also has had a profound impact on modern floral design. This period brought about a meticulous attention to detail, depth of color, and contrast, with artists employing techniques like highlighting unique colors and textures of flowers and plants using small brushes to create lifelike depictions. Consequently, these art pieces often portrayed a mix of formality and rustic beauty.
Landscape design, influenced by European royal castles and historical houses as well as American traditions, also profoundly shaped modern floral design. The biological knowledge of the plants coupled with aesthetic considerations in landscape designing resulted in the creation of picturesque and functional garden spaces. The ornamental arrangement of flower beds, fountains, and the overall composition became foundational principles that modern floral designers still draw inspiration from today.