The Victorian Butterfly Effect: Art from the Golden Age of Natural His

Ready-to-hang: Includes hanging kit, ready to hang directly on the wall.
Frame Material: Durable pine wood.
Frame Measurements: 20-25mm (0.79"-0.98") thick, 10-14mm (0.4"-0.6") wide.
Paper Weight: 200 gsm (80 lb), thickness: 0.22 mm (8.7 mils).
Paper Finishing: Matte, smooth, non-reflective surface.
Protection: Shatterproof plexiglass protects the poster.
Sustainable Paper: FSC-certified materials or equivalent.

This is a classic 19th-century European natural history print by the French scientist Paul Gervais. The illustration, titled Lépidoptères diurnes (French for "diurnal Lepidoptera," or butterflies), features a beautiful arrangement of various butterfly species. They are depicted with scientific precision, resting on the delicate, winding vines of a flowering bindweed. The composition is both an educational plate for identifying species and a highly decorative work of art, showcasing the era's talent for blending scientific accuracy with aesthetic grace.

Historical Tidbit

This print is a perfect artifact from the 19th century's "golden age" of natural history. The artist, Paul Gervais, was a distinguished professor of zoology and anatomy at the Sorbonne in Paris. During this period, there was an immense public fascination with the natural world, fueled by the discoveries of global explorers. Wealthy individuals and institutions amassed vast "cabinets of curiosities" filled with exotic specimens like butterflies, shells, and fossils. Grand, illustrated encyclopedias like the one this print comes from were the scholarly companions to these collections, allowing people to study and admire the biodiversity of the entire planet from their own libraries. This single page is a window into that passionate Victorian-era quest to catalogue all of creation.

Our sturdy wooden framed posters come ready to hang and are printed on heavyweight white matte paper with a smooth, luxurious finish—designed to stand the test of time: