This is not a hand-colored engraving, it is an original, beautifully executed ink and watercolor drawing—one of four watercolors I purchased from a German seller, which appear all done by the same person, likely c. 1800. Photos do no justice to the real thing. I would guess they were the original drawings after which engravings were then made for a volume on animal life. I find it, and all of them, just extraordinarily beautiful, and their amazing detail amplifies the sense of wonder at the creatures represented to begin with. Pure pleasure, and even better for the hand-written notes on the reverse and here, a sketch, which seem to speak to the watercolors as being very much part of a work in progress. That seems to be especially the case with this one, with a few of the butterflies showing a light scribble through them, as if to be omitted from the final version.
10 7/8" x 8 1/4". Ink and watercolor on laid. Very good condition, minor toning/soiling and with wider left than right edge. As evident, there are scribble lines through a few of the butterflies, I believe original to it.
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