Print Description
The print depicts a strawberry bush with ripe red strawberries (Fragaria ? ananassa), with the Willowherb hawkmoth (Proserpinus proserpina) flying above and a caterpillar of the same species crawling on the leaves. The background is kept simple, focusing attention on the detailed rendering of the plant and the insects. The coloring is delicate, enhancing the natural appearance of the subject matter. The scene illustrates the life cycle of the moth and its relationship with the plant, typical of the natural history illustrations of the 18th century.
Made by Jacob l’Admiral after own design.
Medium: Attractively hand-colored etching and stipple engraving on Hand laid (verge) paper. Watermark: French lily and Strasbourg bend.
Sheet size: 23 x 31 cm (9.06 x 12.2 inch). Image size: 19 x 26 cm. (7.48 x 10.24 inch).
Condition: very good, given age. With attractuve contempary hand coloring. Light foxing. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.
WILLOWHERB HAWKMOTH, PROSERPINUS PROSERPINA, STRAWBERRY BUSH, FRAGARIA ? ANANASSA, JACOB L’ADMIRAL, 18TH CENTURY, NATURAL HISTORY, BOTANICAL ENGRAVING, HAND-COLORED COPPERPLATE ENGRAVING, INSECTS, METAMORPHOSIS | EXPO-NATURE
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
From “Naauwkeurige Waarneemingen omtrent de veranderingen van veele Insekten” (Accurate Descriptions of the Metamorphoses of Insects), published by J. Sluyter, Amsterdam, 1774.
Biography engraver: Jacob l’Admiral (1700-1770) was a Dutch artist and engraver known for his detailed and accurate depictions of insects and plants. His work was highly regarded for its scientific accuracy and artistic quality. L’Admiral contributed to several important works on natural history, and his engravings are considered valuable both for their artistic merit and their contribution to the study of entomology in the 18th century.
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