Plate 6: Two Views of a Mourning Cloak (Camberwell Beauty) Butterfly with a Comma Butterfly c. 1575 - 1580

Joris Hoefnagel's "Plate 6: Two Views of a Mourning Cloak (Camberwell Beauty) Butterfly with a Comma Butterfly" (c. 1575-1580) is a detailed watercolor study of two butterfly species. The artist, renowned for his meticulous botanical and zoological illustrations, showcases the exquisite detail of the Mourning Cloak and the Comma butterfly. The butterflies are rendered in vibrant colors against a stark white background, framed by a delicate golden oval. Hoefnagel's scientific approach is evident in the precise anatomical depiction of the butterflies, making the work a valuable contribution to the study of natural history during the Renaissance.