Moth, Three Butterflies, and Two Beetles

1646

Wenceslaus Hollar

Associated Names
Wenceslaus Hollar

Artist, Bohemian, 1607 - 1677

The image features four butterflies and two beetles. The central butterfly has large, ornate wings with eye-like patterns in the top center. Two butterflies with wings folded stand on either side, while one in the bottom center has its wings open. Two small beetles are positioned near the upper sides. The artwork is in black and white with intricate line work for texture and detail.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed to plate): 8.2 × 12.1 cm (3 1/4 × 4 3/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.4943

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    New Hollstein, no. 917, State i/iii

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Count Giuseppe Archinto [1783-1861], Milan (Lugt 52); Arkady Alferoff [1811-1872], Bonn (Lugt 1727); Rudolf Philip Goldschmidt [c.1840-1914], Berlin (Lugt 2926); (C.G. Boerner, Leipzig, May 7-9, 1928, lot 637); purchased by Lessing J. Rosenwald [1891-1979], 1928; gift to NGA, 1943.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1982

  • Pennington, Richard. A Descriptive Catalogue of the Etched Work of Wenceslaus Hollar 1607-1677. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1982, no. 2168, state i/iii.

1996

  • The New Hollstein German Engravings, Etchings and Woodcuts, 1400-1700. (Wenceslaus Hollar, Simon Turner, author). Rotterdam: Sound & Vision Interactive, 1996-, no. 917, state i/iii.

Inscriptions

verso, lower left, in graphite, by a later hand: P. 2168; verso, lower right, in graphite, by a later hand: 637

Wikidata ID

Q65026347

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