BRITISH, 19TH Century. [Insect Studies - Tiger Moth]. Ca. 1820

BRITISH, 19TH CENTURY
[Insect Studies - Tiger Moth]
ca. 1820
Watercolor on paper
12 x 9 1/2" framed

This refined early nineteenth century watercolor presents a beautifully observed study of the Tiger Moth, one of the most striking species in the British Lepidoptera tradition. Rendered with the precision and clarity characteristic of natural history illustration in the decades following Thomas Bewick and preceding the great Victorian entomological publications, the sheet records both the adult moth and its larval forms with scientific accuracy and artistic restraint.

Each stage of the insect’s life cycle is depicted with careful attention to pattern, structure, and coloration, reflecting the period’s growing interest in classification and close observational drawing. Works such as this were created for collectors, amateur naturalists, and scientific circles alike, serving as both instructional images and objects of artistic merit.

The composition is tastefully presented in a contemporary frame that highlights the delicacy of the watercolor without distraction. As a surviving example of early British natural history art, it offers both historical charm and aesthetic appeal, making it an excellent addition to collections of entomology, watercolor studies, and nineteenth century natural history.