Artwork
Studies of Small Tortoiseshell and Painted Lady butterflies, with magnified studies of the wings
Studies of Small Tortoiseshell and Painted Lady butterflies, with magnified studies of the wings is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Beatrix Potter. It dates from 1887 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Beatrix Potter painted delicate watercolours of Small Tortoiseshell and Painted Lady butterflies around 1887.
Beatrix Potter painted delicate watercolours of Small Tortoiseshell and Painted Lady butterflies around 1887. She used a magnifying glass to study their wings up close. This shows her love for nature before she wrote children’s books.
She studied real insects from dead specimens in her cabinet. Her careful drawings helped her create accurate pictures later. The butterflies look alive on the page.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see this work.
Overview
This watercolour sheet features detailed studies of Small Tortoiseshell and Painted Lady butterflies, created by Beatrix Potter around 1887. The work showcases Potter's observational skills and attention to detail.
Subject & Meaning
The sheet depicts two common British butterfly species. Potter's studies include magnified views of the scales on their wings, demonstrating her interest in the natural world and its intricate details.
Technique & Style
Potter employed a magnifying glass to closely examine the butterflies' wings, capturing their texture and structure in her watercolour studies. The delicate renderings reflect her skill as an illustrator and her ability to convey the subtleties of natural forms.
Context
These studies were made during a period when Potter was actively engaged in natural history pursuits, preceding her career as a children's author and illustrator. The work is characteristic of her early, scientifically informed approach to illustration.
Artist & collection
Artist
Helen Beatrix Heelis (née Potter; 28 July 1866 – 22 December 1943), usually known as Beatrix Potter ( BEE-ə-triks), was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist.
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