{"product_id":"british-butterfly-pl-39-by-henry-noel-humphreys","title":"British Butterfly (Pl. 39) by Henry Noel Humphreys","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBritish Butterfly (Pl. 39) by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHenry Noel Humphreys\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eC. 1853\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHand Colored Lithograph\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDisplaying another spare and elegant scientific study from a volume published in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1853\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, 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 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1853 reissue\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eBritish Butterflies and Their Transformations\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, featuring text by the preeminent English entomologist \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJohn Obadiah Westwood\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and illustration plates drawn by the celebrated artist \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHenry Noel Humphreys\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e H 10” x 6 ½” W\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition: Slightly toned with age\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ANTONIO RAIMO GALLERY","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55150443036951,"sku":"PR0264-13","price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0668\/3607\/0679\/files\/PR0264-13.1.jpg?v=1788964969","url":"https:\/\/antonioraimogallery.com\/products\/british-butterfly-pl-39-by-henry-noel-humphreys","provider":"ANTONIO RAIMO GALLERY","version":"1.0","type":"link"}