Canna indica with Two Butterflies and A Grasshopper: PD.280-1973

Titles

Canna indica with Two Butterflies and A Grasshopper

Maker(s)

Draughtsman: Canton workshop

Entities

• Drawing

Categories

• Drawing

Description

This is a Chinese export watercolour depicting Indian shot (Canna indica) with two butterflies and a grasshopper. The illustration features a tall stem with red-orange Indian shot blooming at the top, displaying the characteristic narrow petals and sepals, some with yellow accents. Several green seed pods or buds are visible along the flower spike. The plant has long, strap-like green leaves radiating from the base. The leaves show fine parallel veining and some display small yellow spots or markings that may indicate disease or natural variegation. A Chinese inscription at the lower left corner reads “shui jiao hua 水蕉花”, Canna indica. Three insects are depicted around the flowers: a large brown grasshopper on one of the flowers on the left; a butterfly with striped wing patterns in the upper right; and a yellow butterfly with black wing borders in the lower left. Each insect is rendered with careful attention to anatomical details. Three insects are depicted around the flower: a small reddish-brown dragonfly on the left; a large black butterfly with white spots and orange bands feeding on the main bloom; and another butterfly at the top right with intricate patterns of blue, orange, and white markings on its wings. The painting demonstrates the fine brushwork characteristic of Chinese export art from the late 18th or early 19th century, combining traditional Chinese flower-and-bird painting style and Western botanical illustration. Previously described as “stem with flowers in bud and bloom, surrounded by butterflies and insects”.