Ringlet Butterflies on Heath Grass, hand-coloured lithograph. Humphreys c1849.

by Humphreys, H.N.

Pretty antique print of Ringlet Butterflies. Humphreys, c1849.
Insects: 1.Coenonympha Typhon, the Marsh Ringlet Butterfly (the specimen formerly figured by Mr. Stephens as Iphis. 2.Underside with cream band fascia interrupted. 3.Coenonympha Polydama underside with cream-coloured bank or fascia continuous. 4.Caterpillar of Coenonympha Iphis of Godart. 5. Chrysalis. 6.Coenonympha Davus, the smalll Ringlet Butterfly. 7.Underside. 8.Another specimen of Coenonympha Typhon, with upperside colour approaching Coenonympha Pamphilus. 9.Underside (paler and more indistinct than ordienary).
Plant: 10.Aira flexuosa, or common Heath-grass.

Original  hand-coloured lithograph arranged and illustrated by H.N. Humphreys Esq., with characters and descriptions by J. O. Westwood, Esq. F.L.S. (secretary of the Entomological Society), for British Butterflies and their Transformations published in London c1849.

Humphreys (1810-1879), was a British naturalist, entomologist, illustrator - and numismatist. His presentation of the butterflies with caterpillar and chrysalis, impressed curators at the British Museum, who adopted this method of illustrating the transformation lifecycle of insects. Humphreys artwork surely echos the exquisite medieval manuscripts he studied in Italy when a young man. He wrote: “The study of natural history is the learning of the characters with which the wonderful story of nature is written.. 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.”re 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.”

This is a very pretty lithograph, currently mounted between antique-white ragmat conservation matboard, and covered with cellophane for protection. Page size is 285 x 210mm (11.25 x 8.25 inches). External size for frame is 37 x 30cm (14.1/2 x  11.1/2 inches).