Butterflies (Pl. 32) by Henry Noel Humphreys

Butterflies (Pl. 32) by Henry Noel Humphreys

C. 1848

Hand Colored Lithograph

Captured in a series of graceful, mid-flight and resting poses, this exquisite natural history illustration showcases an elegant assortment of blue butterflies gathering around wild clover under the heading PL. 32. The composition beautifully contrasts the striking, iridescent violet-blue upper wings of specimens like the Large Blue (Phengaris arion) against the muted, intricately spotted gray under-wings of resting individuals. Drawn by the celebrated writer and illustrator Henry Noel Humphreys and described by the distinguished English entomologist John Obadiah Westwood, this hand-finished lithograph was published in London by William Smith circa 1848 for the pioneering companion volume, British Butterflies and Their Transformations.

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, such as the common hop (Humulus lupulus) seen here. 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 11” x 8 ½” W

Condition: Very slight foxing