Butterflies (Pl. 34) by Henry Noel Humphreys

Butterflies (Pl. 34) by Henry Noel Humphreys

C. 1848

Hand Colored Lithograph

Displaying a beautifully orchestrated cluster of blue and brown butterflies, this delicate natural history illustration depicts a variety of specimens flitting around white-flowered and yellow-flowered wild vetches under the heading PL. 34. The layout emphasizes the natural behaviors of the insects, contrasting the vibrant, soft violet-blue open wings of several butterflies against the detailed, spotted brown under-wings of others resting along the stems and foliage. Drawn by the celebrated artist and writer Henry Noel Humphreys and accompanied by descriptions from the preeminent English entomologist John Obadiah Westwood, this hand-finished lithograph was published in London by William Smith circa 1848 for the acclaimed 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