Papilio glaucus (Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly) Artwork; Papilio Ulysses (Ulysses Butterfly) Artwork, two

About the Session

Contemporary plant portraiture in South Africa has a rich history, intertwining botany and art. These depictions possess both aesthetic allure and serve as invaluable documentation of the increasingly diminishing natural world. Marion Arnold astutely observes that contemporary plant portraiture is a hybrid genre with a complex history, situated within both botany as a scientific discipline and art as a transformative visual practice.

In this session, artists pay homage to the delicate balance between scientific precision and artistic ingenuity. Phillip Grieves' 29 lots of butterflies showcase a profound mastery of the watercolour medium. They, along with the rest of the session, echo Arnold's sentiment that the true essence of botanical art transcends scientific accuracy. These pieces exemplify the enduring significance of botanical art in contemporary society.


Sold for

ZAR 3 518
Lot 108
  • Phillip Grieve; Papilio glaucus (Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly) Artwork; Papilio Ulysses (Ulysses Butterfly) Artwork, two
  • Phillip Grieve; Papilio glaucus (Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly) Artwork; Papilio Ulysses (Ulysses Butterfly) Artwork, two
  • Phillip Grieve; Papilio glaucus (Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly) Artwork; Papilio Ulysses (Ulysses Butterfly) Artwork, two
  • Phillip Grieve; Papilio glaucus (Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly) Artwork; Papilio Ulysses (Ulysses Butterfly) Artwork, two
  • Phillip Grieve; Papilio glaucus (Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly) Artwork; Papilio Ulysses (Ulysses Butterfly) Artwork, two
  • Phillip Grieve; Papilio glaucus (Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly) Artwork; Papilio Ulysses (Ulysses Butterfly) Artwork, two


Lot Estimate
ZAR 2 000 - 3 000
Selling Price
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
ZAR 3 518

About this Item

Phillip Grieve
South African 1937-?
Papilio glaucus (Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly) Artwork; Papilio Ulysses (Ulysses Butterfly) Artwork, two

each signed and inscribed with the title; inscribed with the artist's name, the title and medium on an Everard Read label adhered to the reverse

watercolour on paper
each image size: 20 by 20cm; 43,5 by 40 by 3cm including frame

Provenance

Everard Read, Cape Town.

Private Collection.



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