Bilder Eleazar Albin (1690–1742) – Life Cycle of the Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, and Comma Butterflies – Hand-colored engraving (1720)

Beskrivning

This hand-colored engraving presents a detailed biological study of several butterfly species and their metamorphosis stages. The upper section features a spiny black caterpillar on a nettle stalk next to a golden pupa, flanked by an adult Peacock butterfly with its characteristic eye-spots and a dark Comma butterfly. The lower section illustrates a similar larval stage alongside two specimens of the Small Tortoiseshell butterfly, showing the vibrant orange and black mottled wing patterns. The plate includes a formal dedication at the bottom to the Honorable Mrs. Elizabeth Somersett, reflecting the 18th-century practice of securing aristocratic patronage for scientific publications. This work is a primary plate from the seminal publication A Natural History of English Insects, which was among the first to provide detailed colored illustrations of insect life cycles.

Eleazar Albin was a prominent English natural history illustrator and painter who produced several significant works on insects, birds, and spiders during the early 18th century. Originally a teacher of watercolor and drawing, Albin applied his artistic skills to the budding field of entomology, often raising the specimens himself to ensure accuracy in depicting their metamorphosis. His most famous work, A Natural History of English Insects, was the result of years of observation and was highly valued for its aesthetic quality and scientific contribution. Albin's work was notable for being funded through a subscription model, counting many members of the British nobility and fellow scientists as his supporters.

Artist or Maker: Eleazar Albin.

Dimensions: Approximately 28 cm x 23 cm.

Medium: Hand-colored engraving.

Date: 1720.

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.