growth chart of the silkworm
Date: 1838
Inventory Number: 1998-1-1444
Classification: Chart
Subject:
Maker: Brunet De Lagrange
Maker: (sponsor) Ministre du Commerce et de l'Agriculture (founded 1842)
Maker: (printer) Formentin & Cie (19th Century)
Seller: Bernardin Duprat
Seller: Mme. Huzard (fl. 1805 - 1835)
Associate Name: (signature) W. Kenrick
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
0.1 x 49 x 84 cm (1/16 x 19 5/16 x 33 1/16 in.)
in container: 0.2 x 92 x 61.5 cm (1/16 x 36 1/4 x 24 3/16 in.)
Material:
Accessories: none
DescriptionThis is a hand-colored, lithograph chart by Brunet De Lagrange about the life-cycle of the silk-worm.
The translated title reads: the silm worm, a synoptical table, showing rearing according to method of M. Camille Beauvais, and process of ventilation of M. Darcet.
Immediately after the title and prefatory textual matter at the very top, this image horizontally depicts the incubation of silkworm eggs, until the eggs hatch into a baby silkworm at the far right. On the left-hand vertical side of the chart, the growth of the same baby silkworm, still represented next to its egg, is charted over a period of 40 days with corresponding human years (from age 0-7). There is a gradual transition as the egg becomes a larva, then a full-grown worm, then a chrysalis, and finally a moth. Throughout the chart, the silkworm periodically raises its frontal legs off of a small green strip of grass at the final stages of each age, finally perching on a small tree branch when fully grown. The silkworm only becomes gendered as masculine or feminine in the final stages of its development in the chart, when it is in cocoon form and in moth form, with the female laying eggs. In this way, the cycle of life is completed, although it is represented in a vertical format instead of a cyclical one.
This chart is heavily stained on the left-hand side with small tears.
The translated title reads: the silm worm, a synoptical table, showing rearing according to method of M. Camille Beauvais, and process of ventilation of M. Darcet.
Immediately after the title and prefatory textual matter at the very top, this image horizontally depicts the incubation of silkworm eggs, until the eggs hatch into a baby silkworm at the far right. On the left-hand vertical side of the chart, the growth of the same baby silkworm, still represented next to its egg, is charted over a period of 40 days with corresponding human years (from age 0-7). There is a gradual transition as the egg becomes a larva, then a full-grown worm, then a chrysalis, and finally a moth. Throughout the chart, the silkworm periodically raises its frontal legs off of a small green strip of grass at the final stages of each age, finally perching on a small tree branch when fully grown. The silkworm only becomes gendered as masculine or feminine in the final stages of its development in the chart, when it is in cocoon form and in moth form, with the female laying eggs. In this way, the cycle of life is completed, although it is represented in a vertical format instead of a cyclical one.
This chart is heavily stained on the left-hand side with small tears.
Signedtitled: VERS Á SOIE. / TABLEAU SYNOPTIQUE / publié sous les auspices du Ministre du Commerce et de l'Agriculture
printed on top: Pour Mr. BRUNET DE LAGRANGE Eleve de MR. C. BEAUVAIS
printed on the bottom: Tous les exemplaires sont revetus de la signature de l'auteur/ Prix #. Fs./ Paris chez Bin. Duprat, Rue du Cloitre, St. Benoit No. 7 Mme Huzard, rue de l'Eperon No. 7/ Lith. Formentin &Cie
also signed in black ink on the bottom
printed on top: Pour Mr. BRUNET DE LAGRANGE Eleve de MR. C. BEAUVAIS
printed on the bottom: Tous les exemplaires sont revetus de la signature de l'auteur/ Prix #. Fs./ Paris chez Bin. Duprat, Rue du Cloitre, St. Benoit No. 7 Mme Huzard, rue de l'Eperon No. 7/ Lith. Formentin &Cie
also signed in black ink on the bottom
Inscribedsigned on the back of the image in brown ink: W. Kenrick (possibly the owner?)
Curatorial RemarksThis chart is listed in several publications as created in 1838. See for instance the following bibliography by Louis Agassiz, available here.