Traditional Still Lifes
Butterflies and Other Insects
Jan van Kessel the Elder
A masterfully detailed 17th-century study of the natural world, featuring vibrant insects and ornate seashells in a refined Flemish style.
Butterflies and Insects
Jan van Kessel the Elder
1662 · Oil Paint, Panel
A meticulously detailed 17th-century study of lepidoptera and insects by Flemish master Jan van Kessel the Elder.
$243
For the selected configuration
From $129
2 frame sizes
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Made to order in ~2 business days · Free U.S. standard shipping (typically 5–8 business days after dispatch)
Where it works
A quiet, grounding work in a warmer tonal register — asks little of the space around it.
- Often works in
- Living Room · Office · Study
- Placement
- Strong over sofas, beds, buffets, or wider open walls
- Walls
- Reads clearest against mid or deeper wall tones
- Color notes
- Soft gray, Rich brown, Deep burgundy
About the piece
Painted in 1662, this oil study by Jan van Kessel the Elder showcases the artist's celebrated ability to render the natural world with scientific precision. Featuring a vibrant array of butterflies, moths, and beetles, the composition's rhythmic arrangement against a clean, off-white background offers a sophisticated botanical aesthetic that bridges the gap between art and natural history.
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