Copper Butterflies with Yellow Iris. Butterflies antique lithograph c1849.

by Humphreys, H.N.

Antique print of Butterflies, Pupae and Yellow Iris.
Chrysophanus dispar male. (Large Copper Butterfly), female, underside. Common Copper Butterfly female, Caterpillar, Chrysalis.. on Iris Pseud-acorus (Yellow Water Iris) and Rumex palustris (Marsh Dock).

Original hand-coloured lithograph by Henry Noel Humphreys (1810-1879), for John Westwood's British Butterflies and Their Transformations published in London c1849.

Having spent years in Italy studying Greek and Roman coins, archaelogy, exquisite medieval manuscripts and the art of writing and printing, Humphreys' representation of the lifecycle transformations of butterflies and moths with caterpillar, chrysalis and their host plants was commended by the Curators and adopted at the British Museum. The exquisite medieval manuscripts he studied in Italy are surely reflected in his beautiful illustrations of nature. Humphrey wrote (about natural history), “.. cannot conceive a more pleasing and natural introduction to its general study than entomology, of which I think the division of Lepidoptera.. the most easy and attractive section.  H. N. Humphreys, Esq.”

A beautiful lithograph with small watercolour smudge at base of stem. The faint foxing could be hidden by shorter framing window. Page size is 285 x 210mm (11.25 x 8.25 inches).