Aglais Urticae Collection (#3)

Still life with peaches and grapes, 1665 (oil on canvas)
BFM286624 Still life with peaches and grapes, 1665 (oil on canvas) by Elliger, Ottmar the Elder (1633-79); 55x37 cm; Schlossmuseum, Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha

Butterfly Hunting and Lawn Tennis (chromolitho)
735127 Butterfly Hunting and Lawn Tennis (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Butterfly Hunting and Lawn Tennis)

Butterfly Hunting and a Picnic (chromolitho)
735129 Butterfly Hunting and a Picnic (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Butterfly Hunting and a Picnic)

La ballet des papillons au theatre du Gankiro (engraving)
2790191 La ballet des papillons au theatre du Gankiro (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: La ballet des papillons au theatre du Gankiro)

Girl with flowers (colour photo)
3094700 Girl with flowers (colour photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Girl with flowers. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

Goatherd (engraving)
969578 Goatherd (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Goatherd. Illustration for Italy from the Alps to Mount Etna (Chapman and Hall)

"The Princess and the Butterfly, "Mr Pineros New Play at the St Jamess Theatre (litho)
1597322 " The Princess and the Butterfly, " Mr Pineros New Play at the St Jamess Theatre (litho) by Hopkins, Arthur (1848-1930) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Scraps for Juveniles (colour litho)
3104624 Scraps for Juveniles (colour litho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Illustration for a booklet of Scraps for Juveniles, Coloured (Thienemann, Myers)

Colourful Artist Palette (chromolitho)
732776 Colourful Artist Palette (chromolitho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Colourful Artist Palette.); Look and Learn / Barbara Loe Collection

Butterfly Hunting and Geese (chromolitho)
735130 Butterfly Hunting and Geese (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Butterfly Hunting and Geese)

Butterfly Hunting and Photography (chromolitho)
735128 Butterfly Hunting and Photography (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Butterly Hunting and Photography)

Butterfly Hunting and a Sleeper (chromolitho)
735132 Butterfly Hunting and a Sleeper (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Butterfly Hunting and a Sleeper)

Stevenss silk edged perfumed cards, Coventry, London and New York. Caption reads: A thing of beauty is a joy forever
731662 Stevenss silk edged perfumed cards, Coventry, London and New York. Caption reads: A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Victorian advertisement

Childrens Fancy Dress Ball at the Mansion House (engraving)
1614565 Childrens Fancy Dress Ball at the Mansion House (engraving) by May, Phil (1864-1903); Private Collection; (add.info.: Childrens Fancy Dress Ball at the Mansion House)

Butterfly and ferns amidst the ruins of an abbey (coloured engraving)
6014594 Butterfly and ferns amidst the ruins of an abbey (coloured engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Butterfly and ferns amidst the ruins of an abbey)

Woman in ruched dress and coat with hat and parasol, 1914 (stencil)
5893104 Woman in ruched dress and coat with hat and parasol, 1914 (stencil) by Wegener, Gerda Marie Frederike (1885-1940); (add.info)

The Insects Ball (coloured engraving)
979148 The Insects Ball (coloured engraving) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Insects Ball.); © Look and Learn

Peacock, Christmas Card (chromolitho)
731501 Peacock, Christmas Card (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Peacock, Christmas Card.); Look and Learn / Valerie Jackson Harris Collection

Floral display (chromolitho)
730203 Floral display (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Floral display. Large chromolithograph.); Look and Learn / Valerie Jackson Harris Collection

Scraps for Juveniles (colour litho)
3104638 Scraps for Juveniles (colour litho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Illustration for a booklet of Scraps for Juveniles, Coloured (Thienemann, Myers)

Black bird
LLM462124 Black bird by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Black bird. Illustration for The Feathers and Fur Picture Book (George Routledge, c 1890)

Insects harmful to grape vines (colour litho)
971922 Insects harmful to grape vines (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Insects harmful to grape vines)

Plato meditating on immortality before Socrates, the butterfly, skull and poppy, about 400BC (engraving)
1064266 Plato meditating on immortality before Socrates, the butterfly, skull and poppy, about 400BC (engraving) by English School

Fashionable woman in a capote hood at Cafe Frascati, 1798 (handcoloured copperplate engraving)
5986458 Fashionable woman in a capote hood at Cafe Frascati, 1798 (handcoloured copperplate engraving) by French School, (18th century); (add.info)

Butterflies, ferns and flowers (coloured engraving)
6014584 Butterflies, ferns and flowers (coloured engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Butterflies, ferns and flowers)

Beautiful Butterflies: Troides Alexandrae, the largest of all butterflies (colour litho)
6003279 Beautiful Butterflies: Troides Alexandrae, the largest of all butterflies (colour litho) by Twidle, Arthur (1865-1936); Private Collection; (add.info.: Troides Alexandrae)

Beautiful Butterflies: Catching Urania Rhiphoeus in Madagascar (colour litho)
6003275 Beautiful Butterflies: Catching Urania Rhiphoeus in Madagascar (colour litho) by Twidle, Arthur (1865-1936); Private Collection; (add.info.: Catching Urania Rhiphoeus in Madagascar)

Argentine, flame brocade and archers dart
5893463 Argentine, flame brocade and archers dart. by Bock, Johann Carl (1757-1843); (add.info.: Argentine, Spatalia argentina, flame brocade, Trigonophora flammea, and archers dart)

Woman in yellow taffeta afternoon dress
5893129 Woman in yellow taffeta afternoon dress. by Wegener, Gerda Marie Frederike (1885-1940); (add.info.: Woman in yellow taffeta afternoon dress with laced sleeves)

The Ballet (litho)
1603726 The Ballet (litho) by Sainton, Charles Prosper (1861-1914); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Ballet. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 19 November 1892)

Birthday card (chromolitho)
3638950 Birthday card (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Birthday card.); Look and Learn / Valerie Jackson Harris Collection

Prospect Association grand masked ball at the Academy of Music, Tammany Hall and Nilsson Hall, New York (chromolitho)
3104967 Prospect Association grand masked ball at the Academy of Music, Tammany Hall and Nilsson Hall, New York (chromolitho) by American School

Scraps for Juveniles (colour litho)
3104636 Scraps for Juveniles (colour litho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Illustration for a booklet of Scraps for Juveniles, Coloured (Thienemann, Myers)

Hand Shadows (engraving)
671494 Hand Shadows (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Hand Shadows. 1, Reindeer; 2, Chamois; 3, Hound; 4, Camel; 5, Pig; 6, Goose; 7, Wolf; 8, Goat; 9)

Girl looking out to sea (colour print on silk)
730273 Girl looking out to sea (colour print on silk) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Girl looking out to sea.); Look and Learn / Valerie Jackson Harris Collection

Butterfly Hunting and Fishermen (chromolitho)
735131 Butterfly Hunting and Fishermen (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Butterfly Hunting and Fishermen)

Beautiful Butterflies: Brilliant morphos, etc, of South America (colour litho)
6003272 Beautiful Butterflies: Brilliant morphos, etc, of South America (colour litho) by Twidle, Arthur (1865-1936); Private Collection; (add.info.: Brilliant morphos, etc, of South America)

Beautiful Butterflies: Ornithopteras, or bird-wing butterflies, and Urania Rhiphoeus (colour litho)
6003269 Beautiful Butterflies: Ornithopteras, or bird-wing butterflies, and Urania Rhiphoeus (colour litho) by Twidle, Arthur (1865-1936); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ornithopteras)

Butterflies and caterpillars (coloured engraving)
6014593 Butterflies and caterpillars (coloured engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Butterflies and caterpillars)

Butterfly and fern at the base of a cliff by the sea (coloured engraving)
6014591 Butterfly and fern at the base of a cliff by the sea (coloured engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Inlay of the altar of the Oration or of the Holy Sacrament, c. 1728 (marble)
3823024 Inlay of the altar of the Oration or of the Holy Sacrament, c.1728 (marble) by Fantoni, Andrea (1659-1734); Sant Alessandro della Croce, Bergamo, Italy; Alinari Archives, Florence

Silhouettes, children, butterflies (engraving)
5227153 Silhouettes, children, butterflies (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Silhouettes, children, butterflies)

Bottom and Titania, characters from William Shakespeares play A Midsummer Nights Dream (engraving)
5197341 Bottom and Titania, characters from William Shakespeares play A Midsummer Nights Dream (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Bottom and Titania)

Titania, character from William Shakespeares play A Midsummer Nights Dream (engraving)
5197337 Titania, character from William Shakespeares play A Midsummer Nights Dream (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Titania)

Walking time (colour litho)
5198105 Walking time (colour litho) by Stewart, Elise H. (fl.1910); Private Collection; (add.info.: Walking time. Illustration for Round The Clock, Rhymes by May Byron)

Animal and bird pictures (colour litho)
812801 Animal and bird pictures (colour litho) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Animal and bird pictures)

French and English in West Africa, sketches by an English Officer (engraving)
1064219 French and English in West Africa, sketches by an English Officer (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: French and English in West Africa)

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The Aglais urticae, commonly known as the Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly, is a beautiful and fascinating creature found in various locations around the world. In a hay meadow, it can be seen delicately feeding on scabious flowers, its vibrant wings contrasting against the green backdrop. Another sighting takes us to Dorset, UK in August, where this butterfly gracefully perches on a thistle, showcasing its intricate patterns. In New Guinea, an image captures a collector at work with these stunning butterflies. The color litho portrays their vibrant hues and showcases their allure. Moving back to Cornwall, UK in June, we find the Small Tortoiseshell basking on a slate wall - an unexpected but picturesque sight. This species has diverse tastes when it comes to food sources; they are spotted feeding on Ice plant and Marjoram plants alike. Even stained glass windows of churches or old painted doors become resting spots for these enchanting creatures. Nectaring on Verbena flowers provides nourishment for this butterfly while adding beauty to any garden landscape. Additionally, they can be observed feeding on Common fleabane and Devil's-bit scabious plants. Lastly, an intriguing mention goes to a Famille Rose Erotic Subject Plate from Yongzheng-early Qianlong period (1723-95). This ceramic artwork depicts not only human subjects but also includes the presence of our beloved Small Tortoiseshell butterfly. Whether fluttering among wildflowers or gracing man-made objects with their presence through artistic representations like ceramics or stained glass windows – the Aglais urticae never fails to captivate us with its elegance and charm wherever it may be found.