Plate 11: Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral Butterflies with a Mole Cricket
1594
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1594
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This image shows two bright butterflies and a mole cricket on a plain background. The butterfly on the left has orange wings with black spots. The one on the right has blue and brown wings with red dots. The cricket, labeled "2," is curled up in the corner. The gold border and careful details suggest this was made as a scientific study. The artist likely wanted to record nature exactly as they saw it. Next, look up technique: watercolor, glazing to see how artists built up colors like this.
