Hercules Beetle – George Edwards (c. 1758)

One of the largest beetles in the world, wings open. Seen from above on a pale cream sheet, a Hercules beetle spreads its wings in flight: olive-green wing cases speckled with dark spots, amber membranes unfolded behind, six spiny legs and two great black horns stretched forward like pincers. Every joint and every spine is drawn with a naturalist’s care.

The Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) lives in the rainforests of Central and South America. Males can measure up to 17 cm including their horns, which they use to fight rivals, making it one of the longest beetles on Earth and a star of 18th-century cabinets of curiosities.

Why it works on your wall

• Graphic and striking: a bold silhouette for a study, a library or a modern living room
• For lovers of nature: a perfect piece for an entomology or cabinet-of-curiosities wall
• Framing tip: a thin black frame and a wide white mount give it the look of a museum specimen

The watercolour

George Edwards (1694–1773) was an English naturalist and illustrator, often called the father of British ornithology. Librarian of the Royal College of Physicians in London, he drew birds and insects from specimens and live animals for his Natural History of Uncommon Birds. This watercolour and gouache is kept at the Yale Center for British Art.

• Artist: George Edwards (1694–1773)
• Date: c. 1758
• Technique: watercolour and gouache over graphite
• Original: Yale Center for British Art
• Theme: Hercules beetle, insect, entomology

Your print

• Colours restored from a high-definition scan of the original
• Printed in Europe on thick archival matte paper, FSC certified
• From A4 to A0, plus 40×60, 50×70, 60×90 and 70×100 cm and 12×18 to 27×40 inch sizes, all made for standard frames
• Free shipping, no minimum order. Shipped rolled in a sturdy tube

Pair it with Albrecht Dürer’s Stag Beetle, or explore our natural history prints and vintage animal prints.