Alium and Butterfly

Nancy Herman

9" x 12"

oil on canvas

Still trying to get the hang of using more paint, I happened upon this smallish butterfly on one of my beautiful allium and couldn't help but try to capture it on canvas.  

My grandfather had a collection of butterflies carefully pinned to velvet and a net ready to catch others.  At the time I was both fascinated and repulsed by the beautiful display.   Now I wonder how that gentle man could have wanted to kill these lovely creatures.  It was all the fad in those days.  We are such a product of our time, whether we know it or not.  Not sure what kind this butterly is.  It might be a black swallow tail.  Anyone know?