{"product_id":"butterflies-pl-32-by-henry-noel-humphreys","title":"Butterflies (Pl. 32) by Henry Noel Humphreys","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eButterflies (Pl. 32) by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHenry Noel Humphreys\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eC. 1848\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHand Colored Lithograph\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaptured 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 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePL. 32\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The composition beautifully contrasts the striking, iridescent violet-blue upper wings of specimens like the Large Blue (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003ePhengaris arion\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e) against the muted, intricately spotted gray under-wings of resting individuals. Drawn by the celebrated writer and illustrator \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHenry Noel Humphreys\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and described by the distinguished English entomologist \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJohn Obadiah Westwood\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, this hand-finished lithograph was published in London by William Smith circa \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1848\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e for the pioneering companion volume, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eBritish Butterflies and Their Transformations\u003c\/em\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. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJohn Obadiah Westwood\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 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 (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eHumulus lupulus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e) 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 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVictorian era\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e H 11” x 8 ½” W\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition: Very slight foxing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ANTONIO RAIMO GALLERY","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55144482111767,"sku":"PR0278-1","price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0668\/3607\/0679\/files\/PR0278-1.1.jpg?v=1788897963","url":"https:\/\/antonioraimogallery.com\/products\/butterflies-pl-32-by-henry-noel-humphreys","provider":"ANTONIO RAIMO GALLERY","version":"1.0","type":"link"}