Artwork
Study of Butterfly and Insects
Study of Butterfly and Insects is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Jan van Kessel the Elder. It dates from 1655 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1655, this oil on copper work by Jan van Kessel the Elder depicts a naturalistic study of a branch laden with small yellow berries, surrounded by a variety of insects. The composition focuses on the intricate details of butterflies, beetles, a caterpillar and other small creatures, presenting a close observation of flora and fauna.
Subject & Meaning
The painting serves as a scientific illustration as well as an artistic rendering, emphasizing the diversity of insect life that frequents a fruit‑bearing branch. By arranging the creatures in a lifelike setting, the work reflects the 17th‑century interest in cataloguing nature and the delicate balance between plant and animal worlds.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on a copper support, the piece showcases the fine brushwork typical of the Baroque period, allowing for luminous color and precise rendering of minute anatomical features such as insect legs and wing venation. The smooth surface of copper enhances the sharpness of detail and contributes to a subtle, reflective quality in the foliage and fruit.
History & Provenance
Jan van Kessel the Elder, a Flemish painter known for his natural history subjects, produced this study during the mid‑17th century, a time when scientific curiosity was rising across Europe. The work remains attributed to him and is dated circa 1655, though specific ownership records prior to modern museum acquisition are not documented.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
