Kite Swallowtail Exotic Butterflies (Eurytides protesilaus, Eurytides agapenor) – Antique Hand-Colored Engraving (1835)

Kite Swallowtails: Elegant Tails and Tropical Precision in Exotic Lepidoptera

This original 1835 hand-colored copper engraving depicts two remarkable tropical swallowtail butterflies: Eurytides protesilaus, known as the Protesilaus Kite Swallowtail, and Eurytides agapenor, a closely related species admired for its striking pale green wing panels and elongated tails. The plate forms part of Exotic Butterflies, produced under the scientific direction of Hippolyte Lucas and drawn and engraved by Pauquet.

Arranged in a refined vertical composition against a clean background, the two butterflies appear almost like specimens displayed within a natural history cabinet. Their slender bodies, elongated hindwing tails, and contrasting patterns reflect the fascination that nineteenth-century naturalists held for the extraordinary diversity of tropical Lepidoptera.

Beyond its scientific importance, the engraving possesses a distinctive decorative quality. The elegant geometry of the wings and the delicate translucency of the forms make the plate especially appealing today as antique butterfly wall art for interiors inspired by natural history, travel, and historical refinement.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The upper butterfly, Eurytides protesilaus, displays pale translucent wings crossed by bold dark bands, creating a delicate balance between transparency and graphic structure. Its remarkably long hindwing tails extend like ribbons beneath the body, giving the insect a graceful, almost airborne elegance.

Below, Eurytides agapenor presents a more contrasting appearance, with soft greenish panels set against deep black margins and subtle blue accents near the hindwings. The composition of the two species highlights both similarity and variation within the kite swallowtails, revealing the remarkable diversity of tropical Papilionidae.

About the Species

Butterflies of the genus Eurytides belong to a group often referred to as kite swallowtails, distinguished by their slender wings and elongated tails. Native primarily to tropical regions of the Americas, these butterflies were among the most elegant species encountered by early naturalists.

Illustrated works such as Lucas’s Exotic Butterflies introduced European scholars and collectors to this extraordinary diversity of tropical insects. The engraved plates served not only as scientific documentation but also as artistic interpretations that captured the beauty and structure of these fragile creatures.

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. Examples in such well-presed condition are now uncommon, especially with this level of color vibrancy and detail.

Details

• Scientific direction: Hippolyte Lucas
• Artist & engraver: Pauquet
• Work: Exotic Butterflies
• Species: Kite Swallowtails (Eurytides protesilaus, Eurytides agapenor)
• Year: 1835
• Technique: Original copper engraving, entirely hand-colored
• Paper: Original 19th-century laid paper
• Watermark: None present
• Sheet size: approx. 24 × 15 cm