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Botanical watercolor drawing of two chrysanthemum cut stems with an opened-winged butterfly on the left floating toward the flowers.

A black and orange butterfly with white spots on the wing tips floats near the base of the first stem, on the lower left. The first chrysanthemum has white petals surrounding its yellow center and frilly/lacey dark and light green leaves at the center of its stem. The second chrysanthemum is all yellow and situated slightly higher on the page than the white flower. It has three distinct dark green alternating leaves on its stem. There’s a slight shadow underneath them giving dimensionality, the background is antique white. Manuscript of the Latin names in the lower right.　

Identification and Creation

Object Number
4.1965.6
People
Unidentified Artist
Previously attributed to Josef Abel, Austrian (1764 - 1818)
Title
Plant and Insect Study: Chrysanthemum; Cardui Butterfly
Classification
Drawings
Work Type
drawing
Date
18th century
Culture
Austrian
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/312049

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Transparent and opaque watercolor with black ink, gold paint, gum additions and traces of graphite on off-white modern laid paper
Dimensions
36.7 x 23.7 cm (14 7/16 x 9 5/16 in.)
Inscriptions and Marks
  • watermark: countermark: IV

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Loan from the Collection of Edouard Sandoz
Object Number
4.1965.6
Division
European and American Art
Contact
am_europeanamerican@harvard.edu
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Exhibition History

  • 32Q: 2240 18th Century, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 10/22/2019 - 02/25/2020

Verification Level

This record was created from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator; it may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of European and American Art at am_europeanamerican@harvard.edu