Swallowtail Butterflies antique print, Papilio Ascanius, Papilio Paris. c1837
by Lizars, William Home
Antique print of Papilio Ascanius and Papilio Paris - 'Threatened' Swallow-tail Butterfly endemic to Brazil and Paris Peacock Swallowtail Butterfly from China (India & South-east Asia).
Small original hand-coloured steel engraving by Edinburgh engraver William Home Lizars (1788-1859), published circa 1834 for the great Scottish naturalist and ornithologist, Sir William Jardine's The Naturalist's Library.
After his father Daniel Lizars died, W.H. Lizars took over his artist-engraver-publisher's business. William Lizars had already established a reputation as a fine engraver. For Jardine (whose daughter Lizars married) he engraved around 4,000 small portraits of fauna. the butterflies stand out clearly against the uncoloured background - which was a stroke of genius, and no doubt saved a lot of time and effort.
Size of engraving is 168 x 152mm (6 5/8 x 6 inches).
Stock Number: apLizars5Price: $90.00