Description
Moses Harris was a natural history artist and engraver, known for his works on butterflies, insects and color theory. A member of the Aurelian Society, he served as secretary from 1762. He received his early scientific training from his uncle, a member of an earlier incarnation of the Aurelian Society. Harris’s notable works include Natural System of Colours, The Aurelian or Natural History of English Insects, An Exposition of English Insects, and copperplate engravings for Dru Dury’s Illustrations of National History. He was the first English artist to illustrate dragonflies accurately enough to be identified by species; he also discovered two species of fly. His insect drawings were exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1785.
Full titles:
Vanessa Atalanta, The Admirable (or Red Admiral) Butterfly, and Botys Urticata, The Small Magpie Moth, Plate 6
Vanessa Antiopa, The Camberwell Beauty Butterfly, or Grand Surprise, Plate 12
Bombyx Mori, The Silk Moth, and Arctia Caja, The Large Tyger Moth, Plate 13
Episema Coeruleocephala, The Figure of Eight Moth; Limenitis Camilla, The White Admirable, or White Admiral Butterfly; Minoa Chaerophyllata, The Chimney Sweeper Moth; Callimorpha Miniata, The Red Arches Moth; and Pterophorus Pterodactylus, The Brown Plumed Moth, Plate 30
Condition: Prints and frames generally very good with the usual overall light toning, handling wear.
References:
Goodwin, Gordon, “Harris, Moses.” Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Vol. 25. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Harris,_Moses_(DNB00) (10 January 2018).
Harris, Moses and J.O Woodward (ed.). The Aurelian: a natural history of English moths and butterflies, together with the plants on which they feed. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1840. Online at: Archive.org. https://archive.org/details/Aurelian00Harr (10 January 2018).
“Moses Harris.” Wikipedia. 6 January 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses_Harris (10 January 2018).
