Bilder Eleazar Albin (1690–1742) – Life Cycle of the Black-veined White and Brimstone Butterflies – Hand-colored engraving (1720)

Beskrivning

This hand-colored engraving presents a detailed biological study of two butterfly species and their metamorphosis stages. The upper section illustrates the life cycle of the Black-veined White butterfly, featuring a dark caterpillar on a flowering hawthorn branch next to a yellow-spotted pupa, flanked by two adult butterflies showing their distinctive black wing venation. The lower section depicts the Brimstone butterfly, showcasing a turquoise caterpillar resting on a leafy branch alongside a green pupa and two adult butterflies with their characteristic leaf-like, pale yellow wings. The plate includes a formal dedication at the bottom to the Right Honorable Sarah Bodville, Countess Dowager of Radnor, 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 the insect life cycles of Great Britain.

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 over seven 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.