Tag: Butterflies

Exotic butterflies at mid century, the 19th century that is. Just as beautiful as they are now and I hope none of these are now extinct. Taken from W. C. Hewitson’s 1856 work “Illustrations of new species of exotic butterflies: selected chiefly from the collections of W. Wilson Saunders and William C. Hewitson.” All of these plates having been printed by Hullmandel & Walton.

“Papilionidae: ornithoptera and papilio: Ornithoptera Brookeana Wallace and Papilio idaeoides gray.” Page 14. W. C. Hewitson del et Lithograph 1855. Hullmandel & Walton, printers. Collections of and digitalized by the Smithsonian Libraries. In the public domain due to age. via https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/46120#page/14/mode/1up
” Papilionidae: 3,4; Papilio dioxippus. 5; Papilio dioxippus. 6. Papilio Euryleon.” Page 18. W. C. Hewitson del et Lith 1855. Hullmandel & Walton, printer. Collections of and digitalized by the Smithsonian Libraries. In the public domain due to age. via https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/46120#page/18/mode/1up
” Papilionidae: Papilio III; 7. Papilio Wallace; 8. Papilio Onesimus.” W. C. Hewitson del et Lith 1855. Hullmandel & Walton, printers. Collections of and digitalized by the Smithsonian Libraries. In the public domain due to age. via https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/46120#page/22/mode/1up

More butterflies by American painter Albert Bierstadt with colors as grand as his Western sunsets. No, maybe better.

Blue butterfly. 1893. American. Oil and pencil on paper. Signed and dated “Albert Bierstadt with love for ‘Jane, July 9, 1898” on the lower right. Image © 2002-2020 LiveAuctioneers and Jackson Hole Art Auctions. Fair use license. via https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/88553671_blue-butterfly-by-albert-bierstadt-1830-1902
Butterfly. American. Print of a butterfly in oil and pencil on paper signed by Albert Bierstadt in the lower right hand corner. Image © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc.  Fair use license. via https://www.amazon.com/Generic-Butterfly-by-Albert-Bierstadt/dp/B07CSTXC7F
Butterfly. 1895. American. Watercolor and gouache. Albert Bierstadt, artist. Signed and dated “Albert Bierstadt May 1, 1895” on the lower right. Image © 2020 Heritage Auctions. Fair use license. via https://fineart.ha.com/itm/paintings/albert-bierstadt-american-1830-1902-butterfly-1895watercolor-and-gouache-on-paper8in-x-10insigned-and/a/628-23124.s
Butterfly. 1890. Watercolor. Albert Bierstadt, artist. Signed and dated “Albert Bierstadt May 2, 1890.” Image © 1999 – 2020 SKINNER, INC,  Fair use license. via https://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/3100B/lots/263

Science that looks like art. Plates from the Annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution for the year ending June 30, 1901.

"From a composite helio-chrome, made by Mr. Ives." Page 458.
“From a composite helio-chrome, made by Mr. Ives.” Page 458. Herschel. Plate 11. A. Hoen & Company, Lithocaustic, Baltimore. Collection of and digitalized by the Smithsonian Libraries. In the public domain. via https://archive.org/details/annualreportofbo1901smit/page/n457

"Humming birds." Paine. Page 809. Plate 11.
“Humming birds.” Paine. Page 809. Plate 11. A. Hoen & Company, Lithocaustic, Baltimore. Collection of and digitalized by the Smithsonian Libraries. In the public domain. via https://archive.org/details/annualreportofbo1901smit/page/n808

"Butterflies." Paine. Page 831. Plate X.
“Butterflies.” Paine. Page 831. Plate X. A. Hoen & Company, Lithocaustic, Baltimore, lithographer. Collection of and digitalized by the Smithsonian Libraries. In the public domain. via https://archive.org/details/annualreportofbo1901smit/page/n830

Butterflies painted by Albert Bierstadt with colors as grand as his Western sunsets. No, maybe better.

1893.
1893. Oil and pencil on pasteboard. Image © White House Collection/White House Historical Association. Fair use license. via Facebook and https://www.artsy.net/artwork/albert-bierstadt-butterfly

Green butterfly. No date.
Green butterfly. No date. Oil and pencil on paper. Image © 2019 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/lot.133.html/2008/american-paintings-n08414

1890.
1890. Gouache on paper. In the public domain due to age. via https://pixels.com/featured/butterfly-1890-albert-bierstadt.html

1898.
1898. Oil and pencil on paper laid down on board. Image © 2019 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2019/american-art-n10048/lot.82.html

Yellow butterfly. ca. 1890.
Yellow butterfly. ca. 1890. Oil and graphite. Collection of the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven. Image Courtesy of the Yale University Art Gallery. In the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1924. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yellow_Butterfly_by_Albert_Bierstadt.jpeg

Butterflies, insects, seashells and other fun things to while an afternoon away looking at for that special one. 17th century by Flemish artist Jan van Kessel the Elder with one done by his son. Related to the Brueghels.

"A sprig of redcurrants with an elephant hawk moth, a ladybird, a millipede and other insects." 1657.
“A sprig of redcurrants with an elephant hawk moth, a ladybird, a millipede and other insects.” 1657. Oil on copper. Image courtesy Sothebys. In the public domain in the United States because the artist has been dead over 70 years. via

"Butterflies and other Insects." 1661.
“Butterflies and other Insects.” 1661. Image © AllPosters.com. Fair use license. via https://www.allposters.com/-sp/Butterflies-and-Other-Insects-1661-Posters_i12109769_.htm?UPI=PPRPU60&PODConfigID=9436042&sOrigID

"A Study of Butterflies, Moths, Spiders, and Insects." Undated.
“A Study of Butterflies, Moths, Spiders, and Insects.” Undated. Jan van Kessel the Younger, artist (1654-1708). Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. In the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1924. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jan_van_Kessel_-_A_Study_of_Butterflies,_Moths,_Spiders,_and_Insects_-_BF.1978.10_-_Museum_of_Fin

Butterfly art to make your living room look like an endless summer. From German naturalist and scientific illustrator Maria Sibylla Merian. (1647-1717).

"Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium." 1705.
“Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium.” 1705. Hand colored engraving. Artwork in the public domain in the United States because the artist has been dead over 70 years. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Merian_Metamorphosis_LX.jpg

"Duroia sp. and assorted insects." 1705.
“Duroia sp. and assorted insects.” 1705. Hand colored copper engraving. In the public domain in the United States because the artist has been dead over 70 years. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duroia_sp00.jpg

Plate XLV from "Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium". 1705.
Plate XLV from “Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium”. 1705. Hand colored copper engraving. Artwork in the public domain in the United States because the artist has been dead over 70 years. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Merian-grafic-senkenberg_hg.jpg