Sheet of Studies of Nine Insects, Jan van Kessel (I), c. 1653 - c. 1661

brush, h 95mm × w 132mm More details

With an almost scientific sense of accuracy, Jan van Kessel drew various sorts of beetles, flies and butterflies and even a caterpillar on this sheet. He relied on illustrations in scientific books on entomology as well as the actual insects themselves. He did not restrict himself to spectacularly coloured exotic insects, for this drawing also features an ordinary housefly and a small cabbage white butterfly.