Insekten XXXII by Anonymous Artist

Insekten XXXII  by Anonymous Artist

C. 1795

Hand Colored Engraving

This antique hand-colored copperplate engraving depicts two distinct species of butterflies alongside their corresponding caterpillars, pupae, and anatomical features under the multilingual header Insekten XXXII / Insectes XXXII / Insects XXXII / Insetti XXXII. The top illustration (Fig. 1) showcases a vibrant blue Purple Emperor butterfly (Apatura iris), while the bottom section (Fig. 2) highlights a speckled white Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo). Drawn by a craftsman from the Weimar Princely Free Drawing School, this precise scientific illustration was published in Weimar, Germany, by the Landes-Industrie-Comptoir under the editorial direction of Carl Bertuch, dating to the early 19th century (circa 1807–1810).

This print was produced for the monumental 12-volume educational encyclopedia Bilderbuch für Kinder(Picture Book for Children). The original drawing was executed by an anonymous draftsman at the Weimar Princely Free Drawing School (Fürstliche Freie Zeichenschule), where instructors and advanced students prepared the reference designs for the series' plates based on precise empirical observations and existing scientific treatises. This work is highly significant because it represents a major turning point in Enlightenment-era child pedagogy, representing a revolutionary shift away from text-heavy moralizing literature toward highly detailed, multilingual, and empirical visual tools designed to foster scientific curiosity in young minds.

Dimensions: H 10 ⅜” x 8 ¼” W

Condition: In excellent condition