Original Antique Print of Swallowtail and Painted Lady Butterflies, c.1800

Original Antique Print of Swallowtail and Painted Lady Butterflies by Bertuch, c. 1800

Original antique hand-colored copper engraving depicting three colorful butterflies together with their caterpillars and chrysalises, published in Friedrich Justin Bertuch’s celebrated “Bilderbuch für Kinder” around the beginning of the 19th century.

The plate is titled “Insecten XXV / Insectes XXV” and illustrates the remarkable metamorphosis of several butterfly species, showing the adult insects alongside their larval and pupal stages.

Dominating the composition are two magnificent yellow swallowtail butterflies with boldly patterned black wings, blue markings, red eyespots and characteristic elongated tails. Between them is a richly colored orange-red butterfly, accompanied by its caterpillar and chrysalis.

Additional caterpillars are depicted feeding on their host plants, while several chrysalises illustrate the intermediate stage between caterpillar and adult butterfly.

The combination of scientific observation and strong decorative composition is characteristic of Bertuch’s natural-history plates. The original hand coloring is especially attractive, with vivid yellow, orange, red, blue, green and black contrasting against the pale paper.

Friedrich Justin Bertuch (1747–1822) was a German publisher, writer and patron of the arts. His monumental “Bilderbuch für Kinder” (Picture Book for Children) was one of the great illustrated educational encyclopedias of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Published in Weimar from 1790 onward, it contained hundreds of finely engraved and hand-colored plates covering natural history, geography, science, technology, antiquity, costumes and mythology.

Creator:

Friedrich Justin Bertuch (1747–1822)

Source:

Bilderbuch für Kinder

Plate:

Insecten XXV / Insectes XXV

Place of Publication:

Weimar, Germany

Date of Manufacture:

Circa 1800

Period:

Early 19th Century

Style:

Neoclassical, In the Period of

Medium:

Original hand-colored copper engraving on paper

Condition:

Good. Wear consistent with age and use. Light age-related toning and scattered minor spotting. Minor marginal wear and edge irregularities, particularly along the right side. Original hand coloring remains strong and attractive. Please refer to the photographs for further details of condition.

Please note:

This is an original antique print from circa 1800, not a modern reproduction. The print is sold unframed. Framed images or interior views, if shown, are for presentation and inspiration only.

Keywords:

swallowtail butterfly, antique butterfly print, Papilio butterfly, Painted Lady butterfly, butterfly engraving, butterfly metamorphosis, caterpillar print, chrysalis, antique insect print, entomology print, natural history print, Bertuch print, Friedrich Justin Bertuch, hand colored engraving, scientific illustration, circa 1800