Five Butterflies

c. 1912

Odilon Redon

Artist, French, 1840 - 1916

Odilon Redon

Attributed to

The image shows five butterflies of various colors on a cream-colored background. The butterflies are arranged in a loose pattern, and are mostly gathered in the top right corner. The butterflies are painted in colors such as blue, red, yellow, and brown. The butterflies are painted with varying levels of detail, with one in the center being particularly abstract. The lowest butterfly on the page appears to be crawling or is seen from a side view, while the other four are flying and are seen straight on.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    watercolor on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon

  • Dimensions

    overall: 27 x 21.1 cm (10 5/8 x 8 5/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1985.64.113

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Wildenstein vol. 2, no. 1318

Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

1966

  • French Paintings from the Collections of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon and Mrs. Mellon Bruce, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1966, no. 233, repro.

1986

  • Gifts to the Nation: Selected Acquisitions from the Collections of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1986, unnumbered checklist

1999

  • An Enduring Legacy: Masterpieces from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1999-2000.

2016

  • In Celebration of Paul Mellon, NGA, 2016.

Bibliography

1966

  • French Paintings from the Collections of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon and Mrs. Mellon Bruce; Twenty-fifth Anniversary Exhibition 1941-1966. Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1966: 233.

Inscriptions

lower right in brown ink: O.R.

Watermarks

Y Mill 1901 (partial watermark)

Wikidata ID

Q64618525

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