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La Réunion Swallowtail Butterflies (Papilio phorbanta) – Antique Hand-Colored Engraving, Exotic Butterflies (1835)
€185.00
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A refined 19th-century hand-colored engraving depicting two forms of the La Réunion Swallowtail (Papilio phorbanta). Published in Hippolyte Lucas’s Exotic Butterflies (1835), the plate captures the striking contrast between deep velvety wings and luminous pale blue markings characteristic of this Indian Ocean species.
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Authentic antique prints
Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.
La Réunion Swallowtail: Velvet Wings and Luminous Blue Markings
This original 1835 hand-colored copper engraving depicts two forms of the remarkable La Réunion Swallowtail, Papilio phorbanta, a striking butterfly native to the Indian Ocean island of Réunion. The plate forms part of the celebrated work Exotic Butterflies, produced under the scientific direction of Hippolyte Lucas and drawn and engraved by Pauquet.
Presented in a refined vertical composition against a clean background, the two specimens appear almost like a carefully arranged natural history display. Their deep velvety wings and luminous pale blue markings illustrate the fascination nineteenth-century naturalists held for the extraordinary diversity of tropical butterflies.
Beyond its scientific significance, the engraving also possesses a powerful decorative presence. The contrast between dark wings and soft blue highlights gives the butterflies an elegant visual rhythm, making the plate particularly appealing today as antique butterfly wall art for interiors inspired by natural history and historical refinement.
— • —
Visual and Aesthetic Analysis
The upper butterfly reveals the characteristic structure of Papilio phorbanta, with dark chocolate-brown wings punctuated by soft bluish patches that seem to glow subtly against the darker background. Small rounded spots along the margins create a delicate ornamental rhythm across the wings.
Below, the second specimen presents a more vivid arrangement of pale blue fields across the hindwings, forming a striking contrast with the surrounding dark surface. Together, the two figures demonstrate subtle variation within the species while creating a harmonious visual dialogue across the plate.
About the Species
Papilio phorbanta is a swallowtail butterfly endemic to the island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean. Its elegant wing pattern and soft blue coloration made it one of the most distinctive species encountered by nineteenth-century naturalists exploring tropical ecosystems.
Illustrated publications such as Lucas’s Exotic Butterflies introduced European scholars and collectors to species from distant regions of the world. Plates like this served both as scientific documentation and as refined works of natural history art.
Heritage Stories
This engraving forms part of the celebrated series Lucas – Exotic Butterflies , published in 1835 under the scientific direction of Hippolyte Lucas — a period when nature was celebrated through monumental illustrated works combining scientific observation with refined artistic craftsmanship.
Discover the broader historical context in our editorial feature: Hippolyte Lucas: Scientific Vision and the Golden Age of Exotic Butterflies .
The plate was drawn and engraved by Pauquet, whose refined copperplate technique translated real specimens into enduring images of exceptional clarity: Pauquet: The Engraver Behind the Exotic Butterflies .
Condition Report
Very good antique condition. Fresh and vibrant original hand-coloring with strong engraved impression. Printed on fine original nineteenth-century paper. Minor age toning consistent with the 1835 publication. Pieces retaining this level of color brilliance and paper quality are becoming progressively harder to source.
Details
- Scientific direction: Hippolyte Lucas
- Artist & engraver: Pauquet
- Work: Exotic Butterflies
- Species: La Réunion Swallowtail (Papilio phorbanta)
- Historical names on plate: Papilio phorbanta, Papilio disparilis
- Year: 1835
- Technique: Original copper engraving, entirely hand-colored
- Paper: Original 19th-century laid paper
- Watermark: None present
- Sheet size: approx. 24 × 15 cm
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A refined 19th-century hand-colored engraving depicting two forms of the La Réunion Swallowtail (Papilio phorbanta). Published in Hippolyte Lucas’s Exotic Butterflies (1835), the plate captures the striking contrast between deep velvety wings and luminous pale blue markings characteristic of this Indian Ocean species.