Insecta Hymenoptera Pl 04 (1879) by Frederick DuCane Godman is a quintessential Victorian zoological illustration: a meticulously arranged study of the insect order that includes bees, wasps, ants, and sawflies. Created during the late 19th century when illustrated natural history blossomed, this plate balances scientific accuracy with an artist’s eye for clarity and composition. Godman—an influential British naturalist active in both entomology and ornithology—worked at a moment when taxonomy and careful observation were reshaping how scholars and the public understood the natural world. The result is a plate that is both an instrument of study and a beautifully composed artwork.

This listing offers a museum-quality fine art print of Godman’s plate, produced with pigment inks on acid-free archival paper or artist’s cotton canvas. The Unique Maps Co. provides multiple sizes to suit your space, along with optional framing to arrive ready to hang. Personalization is available—add a discreet caption, dedication, or date—to make your print truly unique. Each piece is color-checked for fidelity and finished to order, ensuring a crisp white background and the delicate tints of the original are faithfully preserved.

Frederick DuCane Godman (1834–1919) was a prominent collector and patron of science whose work and collaborations helped document species across continents. His interests spanned entomology and ornithology, and he championed the careful, comparative approach to natural history that defined the Victorian era. Godman’s name is closely associated with the grand tradition of multi-volume natural history projects, where precise plates like this one were fundamental to identification and scholarship.

The subject here—Hymenoptera—is one of the most ecologically important insect orders, essential to pollination, biological control, and complex social behavior. Plates such as this were designed for clarity: specimens are methodically spaced, often showing variations in form so students and researchers could compare wing venation, body segmentation, and distinctive antennae. The clean labeling and systematic arrangement speak to the plate’s original educational purpose while also conveying the elegance of nature’s underlying order.

Visually, the print is a study in restraint and refinement. A luminous white ground frames the insects, whose bodies and wings are rendered with tight linework softened by transparent watercolor washes. Warm touches of orange and yellow highlight thoraxes, abdomens, and wing membranes, while subtle browns and inky outlines define morphology without overwhelming it. The effect is both naturalistic and graphic: an interplay of delicate patterning on wings, fine stippling, and crisp silhouettes that suits interiors ranging from modern minimalist to classic library or study. It’s an arresting conversation piece—equally at home in a scientist’s office, a reading nook, or a gallery wall of botanical and zoological prints.

This fine art print makes a thoughtful gift for naturalists, gardeners, entomology students, science teachers, and anyone who loves Victorian art and design. It’s perfect for Christmas, birthdays, Mother’s or Father’s Day, a housewarming, or to welcome home a traveler freshly inspired by the natural world.

If you're not sure what size to order, or you're looking for a custom order of some kind – a different size, a different colour, a special frame – then please contact me. I usually respond within a few minutes.

You can see an example of my fine art personalisation service in the fifth image. Zoom in and take a look. My personalised artwork is always very well received. Take a look at more examples of personalisation.

You can also choose to age your art print to make it look older. This is popular amongst my customers who want their artwork to look like an older, antique print. You can see an example of ageing in the sixth product image, or go ahead and check out lots of examples of other aged artwork.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this art print.

I can print and frame this beautiful piece of art at sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). If you are looking for a size or framing option that isn't available online, please get in touch.

This artwork is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. My standard frames come in six colours (black, dark brown, dark grey, antique gold, oak and white), and custom framing is available for an additional charge. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This artwork is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The work is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present an art print without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas art and explore the differences between my different finishes.