Blue Butterflies and Pomegranate, 1705-1771
Hand-colored etching and engravingexpand_more
The Minnich Collection The Ethel Morrison Van DerLip Fund, 1966expand_more P.18,715
Not on Viewexpand_more
The two Morpho menelaus (Linnaeus) butterflies here are shown life-size. These slow-flying insects had a seven-inch wingspan and with their iridescent wings would have presented a dramatic sight high up in the jungle canopy. In this image Merian chose to illustrate the butterflies on a pomegranate tree. Though not native to South America, the tree had been introduced to Suriname and was quite familiar to her European audience.
Details
- Title
- Blue Butterflies and Pomegranate
- Artist Life
- 1647-1717
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- P.18,715
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Nissen: 1342; Cat. Ger. Nat'l. Museum, 1967
- Curator Approved
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