Eyed Hawk Moth and White Sating Moth - Hand Coloured Engraving - Moses Harris - 1840

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Eyed Hawk Moth and White Sating Moth – Hand Coloured Engraving – Moses Harris – 1840

Short Description

A rare and desirable hand coloured engraving from The Aurelian by Moses Harris. From the final issue 1840 and considered special for the brilliance of the hand colouring and the thick Whatman paper.

Moses Harris (1731-1785) was a brilliant engraver and entomologist. His first work though was the “Natural System of Colours” where he examined colour theory introduced by Isaac Newton. The Aurelian was his masterpiece and it’s believed he spent many years researching his subject and honing his engraving skills before it was completed. He drew from live specimens showing in each plate the dorsal and ventral view of his subject, together with the various stages of development – egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and their preferred food. This first issue was in 1766 and the full title “The Aurelian: or, Natural History of English Insects; namely Moths and Butterflies. Together with the plants on which they feed and their standard names, as given and established by the Society of Aurelians. Drawn, engraved and coloured, from the natural Subjects themselves. Moses Harris"

In all there were 45 hand coloured plates. The work was reissued in 1778,1794 and in 1840. A handful of the early copies exist.

Here we have Plate XVII, dedicated to the Honourable Thomas Townshend and shows the Eyed Hawk moth and the White Sating Moth together likely because of their common eating habits. Very good condition with nice colouring enhanced with gum arabic. Very clean and a verygood example of a rare and desirable item. Engraved border approximately 30cm by 23cm.

Moses Harris sought after Moths and Butterflies

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