Vlinders, een slang en een schildpad rondom een bloeiende agave 1686 - 1757

Maria Moninckx, a Dutch artist born in 1673, created this watercolor painting, “Vlinders, een slang en een schildpad rondom een bloeiende agave,” which features a blooming agave plant, a snake, a turtle, and a variety of butterflies. The work exhibits a detailed and realistic style common to Dutch still life paintings of the 17th and 18th centuries. The composition is balanced, with the agave plant taking center stage, and the animals and insects are rendered with meticulous attention to detail, illustrating the artist's keen observation of nature. This artwork demonstrates the artist's interest in scientific illustration and her connection to the natural world.