About this sheet
Original Antique Print of Two Exotic Butterflies by Bertuch, c. 1800
Original antique hand-colored copper engraving depicting two spectacular exotic butterflies, published in Friedrich Justin Bertuch’s celebrated “Bilderbuch für Kinder” around the beginning of the 19th century.
The plate is titled “Insecten XXX / Insectes XXX” and presents two unusually large butterflies, each illustrated at an impressive scale to emphasize the intricate patterns and coloration of their wings.
Fig. 1 depicts a remarkable eye-spotted butterfly shown with its wings closed. The underside is richly patterned in shades of brown, cream, orange and green and dominated by a dramatic circular eyespot. Such markings imitate the appearance of an eye and form part of the butterfly’s natural defensive display.
Fig. 2 shows another large exotic butterfly with its wings fully extended. Its dark brown wings are enlivened by elegant blue markings across the body and wings, together with pale ochre bands and a series of contrasting oval markings near the tips.
The unusually large scale of the butterflies allows the finely engraved wing structures and patterns to be appreciated in considerable detail. The restrained yet distinctive original hand coloring gives the plate particularly strong decorative appeal.
The engraving is characteristic of the natural-history illustrations published by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (1747–1822), the 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 engraved and hand-colored plates devoted to natural history, geography, science, technology, antiquity and numerous other subjects.
A particularly decorative early entomological print, well suited to both traditional natural-history collections and contemporary interiors.
Creator:
Friedrich Justin Bertuch (1747–1822)
Source:
Bilderbuch für Kinder
Plate:
Insecten XXX / Insectes XXX
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 and marks. Minor marginal wear and edge irregularities. 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 around 1800, not a modern reproduction. The print is sold unframed. Framed images or interior views, if shown, are for presentation and inspiration only.
Other companion butterfly, moth and natural-history plates from Bertuch’s “Bilderbuch für Kinder” are also available separately.
