I think I found an earlier European sunflower drawing (hand-drawn if I remember correctly), maybe 1520 or so? But I have SO MUCH plant information I'm not sure where I filed it.
I don't think the drawing has to be a sunflower. Many of the asters and especially Gerberas have complex seedheads if you think of the scale in a different way. However, I haven't ruled out sunflower because parchment from around 1420 or so could have been used around 1520 or so. I think it's more likely that it was used earlier, but I don't think early 16th century can be completely ruled out. Scriptoria probably had a certain amount of material stockpiled.
I don't think the drawing has to be a sunflower. Many of the asters and especially Gerberas have complex seedheads if you think of the scale in a different way. However, I haven't ruled out sunflower because parchment from around 1420 or so could have been used around 1520 or so. I think it's more likely that it was used earlier, but I don't think early 16th century can be completely ruled out. Scriptoria probably had a certain amount of material stockpiled.