Plate 20: Three Butterflies, a Caterpillar, a Bee, Two Chrysalides, and Three Weevils
1594
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1594
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing shows a circle of tiny, detailed bugs on pale parchment. There are three butterflies with delicate wings, a fuzzy caterpillar, a striped bee, two chrysalises, and three small weevils. The colors are soft—whites, yellows, and browns—with a golden border framing the whole scene. The title calls it *Homo Bombiliivs*, which might mean "man of the butterflies." The artist used gold paint to highlight the edge, making the bugs stand out. Next, check out watercolor, glazing to see how this technique creates such smooth colors.
