British Butterfly (Pl. 39) by Henry Noel Humphreys

British Butterfly (Pl. 39) by Henry Noel Humphreys

C. 1853

Hand Colored Lithograph

Displaying another spare and elegant scientific study from a volume published in 1853, this fine 19th-century natural history illustration depicts the complete lifecycle of a single butterfly species under the heading 39. The composition vertically tracks the insect's development, positioning a delicately patterned gray-and-brown adult perched on a twig at the top, a pair of dark spread-winged specimens in the center—one featuring striking iridescent blue patches on its upper wings—and its early lifecycle stages, consisting of a brown caterpillar and a matching chrysalis, spaced neatly along twigs below. While the iconic series was originally published in 1841, this specific hand-finished lithograph originates from a later 1853 reissue of British Butterflies and Their Transformations, featuring text by the preeminent English entomologist John Obadiah Westwood and illustration plates drawn by the celebrated artist Henry Noel Humphreys.

This work stems from a milestone period in 19th-century natural history publishing, marking a highly successful collaboration between Humphreys' artistic flair and Westwood's rigorous scientific expertise. John Obadiah Westwood was a preeminent British entomologist and archaeologist who later became the Hope Professor of Zoology at Oxford, revered for his immense contributions to insect taxonomy. Unlike earlier works that isolated specimens in stiff, sterile rows, this plate is historically important because it helped pioneer the ecological format—showing insects dynamically interacting with their specific host plants. This aesthetic and educational approach fundamentally changed how the public visualized biology, transforming scientific documentation into a widely sought-after art form during the Victorian era.

Dimensions:  H 10” x 6 ½” W

Condition: Slightly toned with age