Papilio Erithonius from The Butterflies and Moths of America Part 1
Medium
Color lithograph
Dimensions
sheet: 4 1/8 x 2 1/2 in. (10.5 x 6.4 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ephemera
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, Gift of Jefferson R. Burdick, 1948
Accession Number
48.61(26)
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
About this artwork
This chromolithograph depicts Papilio Erithonius, a butterfly species, as part of "The Butterflies and Moths of America" series published by Louis Prang & Company in 1860. The small print, measuring approximately four and one-eighth by two and one-half inches, presents the butterfly with scientific accuracy and chromatic brilliance characteristic of Prang's innovative printing techniques. The inscription printed across the bottom reads "PAPILIO ERITHONIUS [sic] (ERITHONIODES)," providing the sci...
Art Historical Context
Behold the delicate Papilio Erithonius, chromolithograph from Louis Prang & Co.'s *The Butterflies and Moths America* series, Part 1, published in 1860. This petite print, measuring just 4 1/8 x 2 1/2 inches, captures the butterfly's intricate wing patterns and vibrant hues with scientific precision and artistic. The inscription "PAPILIO ERITHONIUS [sic] (ERITHONIODES)" at the bottom underscores its educational intent, blending natural history with the chromatic brilliance Prang's multi-stoneographic process. Louis Prang, founder of Boston's L. Prang & Company that same year, revolutionized American color printing, earning the title "father of the American Christmas card." His innovations made high-quality images affordable and accessible, fueling public fascination with natural sciences amid 19th-century exploration booms. This series exemplifies how chromolithography transformed ephemera into both teaching tools and aesthetic treasures. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art through Jefferson R. Burdick's 1948 gift, this piece from his vast collection of 19th-century prints highlights the era's printing evolution and cultural role of such vivid, pocket-sized wonders.
About the Artist
Louis Prang & Co. · 1800–1950
Louis Prang & Co. was the Boston printing firm that introduced the Christmas card to the American public and elevated chromolithography to the level of a serious art form. Its founder, Louis Prang (1824–1909), was born in Breslau, Prussia (now Wrocław, Poland), where he trained as a cloth printer and dyer. After participating in revolutionary activity against the Prussian government, he fled first...