The artwork entitled “Blue Morpho Butterfly” is an oil on canvas painting created by the artist Martin Johnson Heade in 1865. Reflecting the Romanticism art movement, the piece measures 12 1/4 by 10 inches and falls under the genre of animal painting. Currently, it is housed in the Manoogian Collection.
In the artwork, a striking blue morpho butterfly is depicted with its wings fully extended, revealing a vivid contrast between the deep, velvety black of its body and the luminescent blue of its upper wing surfaces. The butterfly is perched delicately on a slender branch, which is portrayed with meticulous attention to detail, suggesting the artist’s keen interest in the natural world. The muted background comprises assorted vegetation, including wispy tendrils of flora and modest yellow buds that add to the composition’s lifelike quality. The overall effect is one of tranquil beauty, emphasizing the Romantic era’s fascination with nature and its exquisite intricacies.
