Insecta Lepidoptera-Heterocera, Plate 17 by Frederick DuCane Godman is a luminous Victorian zoological illustration from 1879, part of the long-running nineteenth-century effort to document the natural world with scientific precision. Godman, an English naturalist and collector born in 1834, helped lead an ambitious survey of Central American biodiversity, and this plate exemplifies the period’s spirit of discovery. Against a pale ground, multiple moth specimens are meticulously rendered so that their wing shapes, patterning, and warm coloration can be compared with clarity—an approach intended for study rather than ornament, yet undeniably beautiful in its restraint.

Offered as a museum-quality fine art print by The Unique Maps Co., this piece is available on acid-free archival paper or on artist’s cotton canvas, produced with long-lasting pigment inks. Choose from a range of sizes faithful to the original plate or scaled to suit your space, with optional conservation framing in curated finishes. Personalization and customization are available—including custom titling, tasteful margins, plate-number annotations, and dedication lines—to create a piece tailored to your home or collection.

About the artist: Frederick DuCane Godman (1834–1919) was a leading figure in Victorian natural history, remembered for his role in large-scale cataloguing of flora and fauna, particularly in Central America. His collaborations fostered meticulous fieldwork and careful visual documentation, bringing together scholars, collectors, and artists in the service of science. The resulting plates—intended for serious study—were also prized by art lovers for their quiet elegance and balance.

Why this subject matters: Lepidoptera-Heterocera refers specifically to moths, distinguished historically from butterflies in nineteenth-century taxonomy. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, plates like this were essential tools, enabling entomologists and collectors to compare species at a glance through standardized layout, numbering, and concise labeling. In an era before color photography, such engravings and lithographs advanced understanding of morphology, seasonal variation, and geographic distribution, with Central America providing a particularly rich field for discovery.

Color, style, and design: The palette here leans into warm earth tones—orange, yellow, and muted brown—set on a white or cream ground that heightens contrast and legibility. Subtle shading models the bodies and antennae, while crisp outlines keep the wing margins clean and readable. Eye-like spots and banding create natural focal points, illustrating mimicry and pattern diversity without crowding the page. The composition’s scientific regularity reads as artful minimalism, making it exceptionally versatile: it complements interiors ranging from modern and Scandinavian to traditional libraries and studies, and it pairs beautifully with other natural history prints.

This fine art print makes a thoughtful gift for nature lovers, entomologists, and anyone captivated by the meeting of art and science. It’s ideal for Christmas, Father’s Day or Mother’s Day, a housewarming, or as a refined memento for someone with a special connection to Central America.

If you're not sure what size to order, or you're looking for a custom order of some kind – a different size, a different colour, a special frame – then please contact me. I usually respond within a few minutes.

You can see an example of my fine art personalisation service in the fifth image. Zoom in and take a look. My personalised artwork is always very well received. Take a look at more examples of personalisation.

You can also choose to age your art print to make it look older. This is popular amongst my customers who want their artwork to look like an older, antique print. You can see an example of ageing in the sixth product image, or go ahead and check out lots of examples of other aged artwork.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this art print.

I can print and frame this beautiful piece of art at sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). If you are looking for a size or framing option that isn't available online, please get in touch.

This artwork is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. My standard frames come in six colours (black, dark brown, dark grey, antique gold, oak and white), and custom framing is available for an additional charge. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This artwork is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The work is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present an art print without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas art and explore the differences between my different finishes.