Insects in art

[Paul mabbott]

I'm interested in the almost complete absence of insects in plastic arts (painting, sculpture &c) other than the scarab, of course. So was interested in this:

Wild animals in art

Anyone know of any other examples?

[Lord V]

Someone did this to one of my hover photos quite a while ago

ArtWanted.com | Angie Swihart | Cosmic Blossom..... For LordV

Brian V.

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by Lord V

Someone did this to one of my hover photos quite a while ago

ArtWanted.com | Angie Swihart | Cosmic Blossom..... For LordV

Brian V.

It must be a weird world, being a syrphid!

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

I'm interested in the almost complete absence of insects in plastic arts (painting, sculpture &c) other than the scarab, of course. Anyone know of any other examples?

There are countless paintings of insects. In flower pictures and in illuminated manuscripts to name but two sources. I'll try and post an example tomorrow.

henrya

[Bramble]

There was a Dutch artist in the 16th-17th century who did lots of insect paintings - assorted bugs, bees, butterflies, interspersed with shells, flowers and the like. I think his name was Jan, which accounts for a large percentage of the Dutch male population I will have a root aboot the web and see if I can find an example for you!

Found him - Jan van Kessel 1626-79 (and apologies, he's Flemish):

Peapods and Insects: Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco - de Young - Legion of Honor

Various insect paintings: The Fitzwilliam Museum : Home (search his name - I couldn't get the url to post )

Butterflies, Insects and Currants: Jan van Kessel (Getty Museum)

Butterflies and Insects: Study of Butterfly and Insects

Insects and Fruit: Insects and Fruit - Rijksmuseum Amsterdam - National Museum for Art and History

Various from the Ashmolean: The Ashmolean - Museum of Art & Archaeology

[smartie]

Japanese Shin Hanga prints also quite frequently depict insects, butterflies, dragonflies and beetles.

And there is - or was when I was last there - an artist in Venice who makes amazing small glass sculptures of insects. We brought two home and have never managed to find aywhere suitable to display them where we thought their fragile antennae wouldn't get broken.