Title Page 1646

"Title Page" is an etching by Wenceslaus Hollar, a Czech-born artist who worked in England, and is dated 1646. It showcases Hollar's skill in detail and precision, depicting various insects, primarily butterflies, in a decorative frame of scrolling foliage. The intricate design of the page, filled with delicate lines and shading, creates a dynamic visual field. The Latin text, "Muscarum Scarabeorum, Vermiumg Varie Figure & Forma, omnes primo ad uiuum coloribus depicta & ex Collectione Arun delian a Wenceslao Hollar aqiva forti ari insculptz. Antuerpiz. Anno, 1646," indicates the work's purpose as a title page for a book of insect illustrations. The text reveals Hollar's dedication to capturing the "true" forms and colors of nature, further underscoring the scientific interest in natural history during the Baroque era.