Vlinders op een urn 1751 - 1816

"Vlinders op een urn" (Butterflies on an Urn), created between 1751 and 1816 by Dutch artist Reinier Vinkeles (1741-1816), is a delicate engraving depicting a classical urn adorned with a garland and topped with a cluster of stylized butterflies. The urn's inscription "ΛΔΣ" alludes to the ancient Greek goddess of the underworld, Persephone, adding a symbolic layer to the artwork. Now housed in the Rijksmuseum, the engraving exemplifies the meticulous detail and elegance characteristic of Vinkeles's work.