Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist William Sharp. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work is a hand‑drawn print titled “A Butterfly of the Summer Season,” produced in 1829 and issued by the publisher J.
About this work
This print shows a single butterfly perched on a green leaf. Its wings are bright orange with dark spots. The background is plain white.
The artist, Sharp, drew this in 1829 for a series called "A Butterfly of the Summer Season." It looks like a careful study done by hand. You can see every tiny vein in the wings.
Check out more like this at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
The work is a hand‑drawn print titled “A Butterfly of the Summer Season,” produced in 1829 and issued by the publisher J. Dickinson. It depicts a solitary butterfly perched on a green leaf against an unadorned white background, emphasizing the insect’s form and coloration.
Subject & Meaning
The image focuses on a single butterfly, its wings rendered in vivid orange marked with dark spots, while the delicate venation of each wing is meticulously traced. The composition presents the creature as an object of natural observation, typical of early‑19th‑century studies of seasonal fauna.
Technique & Style
Executed as a hand‑drawn print, the piece showcases fine line work that captures the intricate network of wing veins. The stark white field surrounding the subject heightens contrast, allowing the orange and dark markings to stand out without decorative distraction.
History & Provenance
Created by the artist Sharp as part of a series named “A Butterfly of the Summer Season,” the print was released by J. Dickinson in 1829. It forms one component of a broader collection of seasonal butterfly studies produced during that period.
Context
The early nineteenth century saw a surge of interest in natural history illustration, driven by scientific inquiry and the popularization of entomology. Prints such as this served both educational and aesthetic purposes, providing detailed visual records of insect species for collectors and scholars alike.
Artist & collection
