Not currently on display at the V&A

Geometrid moths

Painting
1800-1840 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This painting shows two yellow geometrid moths. An artist in Canton made it for Europeans interested in exotic flora and fauna.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleGeometrid moths (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour and ink on paper
Brief description
Painting, 'Two Yellow Geometrid Moths', watercolours and ink on paper, Guangzhou, China, 1800-1840
Physical description
Painting, rectangular, depicting in the centre two yellow geometrid moths on green foliage. Also in the picture, thier chrysallis.
Dimensions
  • Height: 26cm
  • Width: 20cm
Style
Object history
Exotic flora and fauna had strong appeal to British botanists in the 18th/19th century, and such interest gradually filtered down to the general public. Travellers brought back to Britain specimens of foreign insects and more commonly, paintings depicting those insects.
Purchased from E. Parsons, accessioned in 1889. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Subject depicted
Summary
This painting shows two yellow geometrid moths. An artist in Canton made it for Europeans interested in exotic flora and fauna.
Bibliographic reference
Souvenir from Canton : Chinese export paintings from the Victoria and Albert Museum, Shanghai, 2003 270
Collection
Accession number
D.1314-1889

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdOctober 9, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest