Botanical watercolor drawing of two zinnia-related flower stems with an opened-winged moth in lower right.
Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
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Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College

The light-yellow flower on the left has a smaller bud shoot growing out of the stem reaching left. It sits slightly higher than the red one next to it. Both flowers have many flat petals emanating from a bulbous center, and long tapered opposite leaves joined at the stem.　The moth (or butterfly), light brown and white mosaic-patterned wings and a soft grey abdomen, is depicted at the base of the stems, floating toward them. Shadows give them all dimensionality; the background is plain antique white. Manuscript of the Latin names in the lower left.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
4.1965.11
People
Unidentified Artist
Previously attributed to Josef Abel, Austrian (1764 - 1818)
Title
Plant and Insect Study: "Acinea"; Versicolora Moth or Butterfly
Classification
Drawings
Work Type
drawing
Date
18th century
Culture
Austrian
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/312148

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Watercolor over graphite on cream antique laid paper
Dimensions
36.6 x 23.7 cm (14 7/16 x 9 5/16 in.)
Inscriptions and Marks
  • watermark: countermark: IV

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Loan from the Collection of Edouard Sandoz
Object Number
4.1965.11
Division
European and American Art
Contact
am_europeanamerican@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Exhibition History

  • 32Q: 2240 18th Century, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 10/22/2019 - 02/25/2020

Verification Level

This record was created from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator; it may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of European and American Art at am_europeanamerican@harvard.edu