Primary Artist

James Gillray (1757–1815)

Title

The great South Sea caterpillar, transformed into a Bath Butterfly

Date made

4 July 1795 (imprint)

Place made

London, Greater London, England View on map Close map

Category

Print

Print type

intaglio

Technique

etching, printed in black ink, from one copper plate; with hand-coloured later?

Text printed from matrix

printed upper right within image, 'Pubd. July 4th. 1795 by H. Humphrey, No. 37 / New Bond Street.'.
printed lower left below image, 'J.G'. des et fect.'
printed centre below image, ' The great South Sea Caterpillar, transformed into a Bath Butterfly. / Description of the New Bath Butterfly - taken from the Philosophical Transactions for 1795 - " This Insect first crawl'd into notice from / among the Wees & Mud of the Banks of the South Sea; & being afterwards placed in a Warm Situation by the Royal Society was / changed by the heat of the Sun into its present form - it is notic'd & Valued Solely on account of the beautiful Red which encircles / its Body, & the Shining Spot on its Breast; a Distinction which never fails to render Caterpillars valuable.'.

Matrix size

31.4 x 24.4 cm (plate-mark)

Edition information

2nd edition of 1847

Subject category

Australia, Art period: Colonial, Caricature

Subject description

Caricature of Sir Joseph Banks as a butterfly with his Order of the Bath on his chest and the British crown as the sun.

Country of context

Australia

Legacy id

104101

Creators

Gillray, James. | (1757–1815) English | Male | artist

Humphrey, Hannah. | (1745–1818) English | Female | publisher

Bohn, Henry G. | (1796–1884) Male | publishers

Last Updated

20 Jan 2026