Papilio demodocus (Citrus or Christmas butterfly) on an unidentified plant Possibly 1777 - 1786

Robert Jacob Gordon made this watercolor of a Papilio demodocus butterfly on paper, sometime before his death in 1795. Look closely at the artist’s hand. The plant is carefully built up with layers of delicate washes, the veins articulated with fine brushstrokes. The butterfly itself is composed with great precision. Notice the symmetry of its wings, the careful registration of spots along its margins, and the bold yellow accents. This is not merely a picture of a butterfly. It is a record of its existence, and the labor involved in creating such images was part of a larger scientific project. It speaks of the commitment of the artist to his subject and an appreciation of the skill required to bring it to life on paper. That intersection of nature, close observation, and practiced technique gives this image its enduring power.