in this group as archaic progress: on the one hand, descriptions of new subspecies are constantly appearing (progress seems to be happening), and on the other hand, the overwhelming majority of these subspecies are stillborn taxa, initially being synonyms (and, what is most unpleasant, the describers of such subspecies usually know this from the beginning).
Staudinger’s collection is a source of «old’ subspecies descriptions, but the number of used specimens is very small.
Rhyme
I will only briefly touch on the topic of man’s glorification of the beauty of the Parnassians. Man has always admired beauty, and the beauty of the Parnassians is undeniable.
The genus Parnassius has inspired many artists. Here is a small list of works that mention or depict these butterflies:
Literature
Lots and lots of books and novels are devoted to Parnassian butterflies. I will show only a few.
Vladimir Nabokov – «Transparent Things» (1972) [Прозрачные вещи].
In this novel, Nabokov describes the Apollo butterfly, emphasizing the «faded red» spots on its wings.
Vladimir Nabokov – «The Gift» (1938) [Дар].
The novel contains scenes related to Parnassians.
Jillian Meadows – «Give Me Butterflies: A Novel».
A swoony, steamy romance in which two curators at a science museum – a handsome but grumpy astronomer and an anxious but sunshiny entomologist – realize they are the perfect match. The Apollo Butterfly in this romance is an example of a light and white sense of love.
Lata Sharma – «Nature’s Wings: A Journey into the World of Apollo Butterflies».
This book invites young readers on an exciting adventure through the enchanting world of butterflies. With its vibrant illustrations and engaging storytelling, this book is specially created for children aged four and above to spark their curiosity and ignite a love for the natural world.
Painting and Illustrations
Many scientific publications of the late 19th – early 20th centuries contain detailed illustrations of butterflies of Parnassians, made by naturalist artists.
Some specific oil paintings and posters depict Parnassians too, let’s touch them a bit.
The work of Peter Blake (Butterfly man, 2010, UniCredit Art Collection) – the author of the legendary cover of The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, depicts Parnassius apollo (Linnaeus, 1758) among the other butterflies.
Vasily Polenov’s «Butterfly Collection» (1874). This is a still life depicting butterflies laid out in a display case, among which you can see Parnassius apollo (Linnaeus, 1758), one of the most famous butterflies of the Parnassius genus.
Polenov, as a representative of the Russian realistic school, conveyed the details of the insects with great precision, which makes the painting a valuable source for entomologists and nature lovers.
This work reflects the popularity of entomological collections in the 19th century when collecting butterflies was not only a hobby but also a part of scientific research. The painting demonstrates the subtlety and ephemerality of nature, which is characteristic of Polenov’s work.
George Elgar Hicks «Life’s sunshine». He was an English painter during the Victorian era. He is best known for his large genre paintings, which emulate William Powell Frith in style, but was also a society portraitist.
Life’s Sunshine is a series of paintings by George Elgar Hicks which depicts mostly young and beautiful ladies. One such painting is devoted to two girls resting in a garden or a forest and observing the fly of an Apollo Butterfly. Apollo is depicted in all details, with its natural proportions. The ladies look at him with genuine surprise, their gaze conveying admiration for the beauty of the butterfly and the grace of its flight.
Peter Blake. Butterfly man, 2010, UniCredit Art Collection.
Vasily Polenov. Butterfly Collection.
Life’s sunshine. George Elgar Hicks.
Music
No direct musical works dedicated to Parnassians have been found. However, the theme of butterflies inspired composers to create works conveying their lightness and grace:
Robert Schumann – «Papillons» (Op. 2, 1831)
The piano cycle, the title of which is translated as «Butterflies», conveys the grace and ephemerality of these creatures.
Edvard Grieg – «Solveig’s Song» from the suite «Peer Gynt» (Op. 23, 1875)
Although the composition is not dedicated to butterflies, its melody is associated with lightness and airiness, reminiscent of the flight of a butterfly.
Philately, or postage stamps
Parnassians are depicted on postage stamps of various countries, including Hungary (1974), Afghanistan (1971), Kyrgyzstan (2018), and others.
Poetry
Poems are often written about the Apollo butterfly. Here are the lines of some of them:
Ludwig Uhland
An Apollo, den Schmetterling
Göttlicher Alpensohn, sey huldreich uns Epigrammen!
Ueber der nächtlichen Kluft flatterst du, spielend im Glanz.
Few examples of postage stamps with Parnassians
Few examples of postage stamps with Parnassians
Few examples of postage stamps with Parnassians
Few examples of postage stamps with Parnassians
Нина Грачёва
Солнечная бабочка Аполлон…
Солнечная бабочка Аполлон
Брызжет радостно в холодное стекло…
Буду думать: сон или не сон?
Из-под шали чёрной вынырнет крыло.
Ясен свет мерцающих зрачков.
Видно, буду сладко помнить и в земле:
Шорохи лукавых мотыльков,
Пятнышко на золотом своём крыле…
Postal envelope with Parnassius apollo (Linnaeus, 1758) depicted.
[Nina Grachova
Solar Apollo