A Poppy in Three Stages of Flowering, with a Caterpillar, Pupa and Butterfly
late 17th–early 18th century
Medium
Watercolor and gouache over traces of black chalk
Dimensions
sheet: 15 3/16 x 11 13/16 in. (38.6 x 30 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, Anonymous Gift, in memory of Frits Markus, and Karen B. Cohen Fund, 2005
Accession Number
2005.4
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the late 17th to early 18th century Johanna Helena Herolt ( Graff) created this exquisite *A Poppy in Three Stages Flowering, with a Caterpillar, Pupa and Butterfly*, a masterful watercolor and gouache drawing heightened with traces of black chalk. 15 3/16 x 11 13/16 inches, it captures a single poppy bloom progressing from bud to full flower and seed pod, accompanied by a caterpillar, pupa, and—symbolizing the parallel cycles of plant and insect life. The delicate red petals, veined leaves, and textured insects invite viewers to marvel at nature's precision. This work exemplifies the era'...