Elegant butterflies with vivid red tips and bright yellow tones. A refined 1835 engraving balancing delicacy and bold contrast.
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Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.
This original 1835 hand-colored copper engraving depicts three elegant butterflies historically associated with Anthocharis, including Anthocharis mariamne, Anthocharis pirene, and Anthocharis cenippe. The plate belongs to the celebrated Exotic Butterflies series directed by Hippolyte Lucas and engraved by Pauquet.
The composition combines luminous yellow tones with vivid red-tipped wings and deep black contrasts, creating a refined yet visually striking effect.
With its balanced structure and distinctive color accents, this engraving is particularly suited as antique butterfly wall art, offering both elegance and visual energy.
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The upper butterfly introduces a lighter palette with white wings contrasted by vivid red tips and dark edges, creating a refined and airy opening.
The central specimen intensifies the composition with bright yellow wings framed by bold black and red accents, adding warmth and visual strength.
The lower butterfly completes the arrangement with a softer yellow tone enriched by subtle shading and patterned details, balancing the composition.
Butterflies of the genus Anthocharis, often known as orange-tip butterflies, are admired for their distinctive wing markings and elegant coloration.
Their combination of delicate structure and vivid accents made them highly appreciated subjects in nineteenth-century natural history illustration.
This engraving reflects that aesthetic balance, presenting variations of the same visual theme across multiple specimens.
This engraving is part of the renowned Lucas – Exotic Butterflies series, published in 1835 during the golden age of natural history illustration.
Learn more in our article: Hippolyte Lucas and Exotic Butterflies .
The engraving was executed by Pauquet, whose refined technique allowed vivid color accents and delicate tonal transitions to be rendered with remarkable precision: Pauquet: Master Engraver .
Very good antique condition. Bright, well-preserved hand-coloring with vivid reds, yellows, and deep blacks. Printed on original nineteenth-century paper. Minor age toning consistent with age. Examples with such balanced contrast and color clarity are increasingly difficult to find.
Specific References
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