Summary

Watercolour, pencil and ink illustrations (D356, 356a) of a Yellow Admiral Butterfly, Vanessa itea, by Arthur Bartholomew, showing the different patterns on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the wings. These illustrations were commissioned by Frederick McCoy, the first Director of The National Museum of Victoria, for Plate 198 in The Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria; Figures and descriptions of the living species of all classes of the Victoria indigenous animals. At the time, McCoy identified this species as Pyrameis itea.

Bartholomew's work forms part of the Museum's much larger Prodromus Collection. Many of the original illustrations and prints in the collection informed the production of The Prodromus, the first major publication of the National Museum of Victoria. Between 1878 and 1890, McCoy published his zoology 'Prodromus' as 20 parts in two volumes, with each part comprising 20 Plates. Unfortunately, almost 90 plates in the collection remain unpublished, and hundreds of illustrations were either not completed or not printed.

Description of Content

Australian Admiral, Vanessa itea Fabricus by Arthur Bartholomew (del). Drawing - Pencil, water colour and varnish on paper, 12 cm x 17cm.. Drawing D356 finally published as Plate 198 in The Prodromus of Zoology by Frederick McCoy.

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