Collection of 8 Canadian North American Butterfly & Beetle Studies

A superb and meticulously executed group of natural history watercolours depicting Canadian North American butterflies and beetles, dating to the late 19th century. The collection comprises six butterfly studies and two beetle studies, presented across five elegantly mounted and uniformly framed compositions. Measurements are taken from the frame. Each painting displays a remarkable attention to anatomical precision and chromatic fidelity, reflecting both scientific observation and artistic sensitivity typical of Victorian-era entomological illustration. Rendered in delicate washes of watercolour heightened with opaque gouache, these works capture the iridescent shimmer and intricate veining of the insects’ wings, set against subtly aged cream grounds that lend each composition a timeless, archival character. Several sheets bear faint period inscriptions and dates, one notably marked “1895”, suggesting a Canadian or broader North American provenance during a period of burgeoning natural history study. The compositions present a diverse arrangement of butterflies in shades of emerald, sulfur yellow, and deep indigo, one accompanied by a pale-winged grasshopper with other brilliantly coloured species—from vibrant orange and black Monarch-like specimens to delicately patterned swallowtails and small copper butterflies—demonstrating the artist’s keen eye for both variety and lifelike accuracy. The final frame departs slightly in subject, depicting two beetles, one an elongated longhorn variety with striking metallic yellow-green tones, and the other a compact dark scarab rendered with glossy realism.