Limited Edition Viceroy Butterfly Signed and Numbered Fine Art Print

This numbered and signed work, from a limited run of 50 fine art prints, makes a one-of-a-kind gift.

One of my favorite butterflies, L. archippus is well known as a nearly perfect mimic of Danaus plexippus, the world-famous monarch. The color and pattern is a spectacular copy of the model monarch, except for the black band that traverses the underside of the hindwing. It fools just about everyone who sees it, including the birds who avoid it because it looks like the toxic monarch (recent research has thrown this tidy relationship into doubt, however). With practice, I have learned to identify the flap-and-glide flying style of the viceroy, one of the few ways to tell the two species apart in the field.

This watercolor painting faithfully and precisely reproduces the beautiful colors and striking design of the insects I have pursued and studied since childhood. My style is inspired by that of my grandfather, Arthur Cushman, a noted illustrator who worked for the Smithsonian Institution and the USDA, whose paintings and drawings helped set the standard for scientific illustration in the mid 20th century.

> Signed and numbered print in a limited edition of 50

> Free shipping on all orders

> Printed on 230 gsm, 14 mil, acid-free, 100 percent cotton Fine Art Bright White paper

> Archival pigmented inks for superior resistance to fading, greater scratch resistance, and color stability.

My original 15 x 20 watercolor painting is also available – please contact me at specimenartcollective@gmail.com for more information about owning an original.