30 butterflies

Thirty butterflies, meticulously rendered, float and alight across this small copper panel. Each creature is a distinct portrait, from the delicate veining of their wings to the subtle variations in their markings. The artist, Jan van Kessel the Elder, painted many such detailed studies of the natural world, often on copper, which provided an exceptionally smooth surface for his precise brushwork. This work, created in 1651, captures a moment of fleeting beauty, transforming the ephemeral life of insects into a permanent, jewel-like display. It reflects a 17th-century fascination with collecting and cataloging nature, much like a collector's cabinet, but here, the specimens are vibrant and alive, inviting a close, meditative look at their intricate forms.