Insecta Hymenoptera Pl. 01 (1879) by Frederick DuCane Godman is a quintessential Victorian zoological illustration devoted to the insect order that includes bees, wasps, and ants. Godman—an English naturalist and collector born in 1834—worked at the height of the nineteenth century’s zeal for cataloguing the natural world through disciplined observation. This plate exemplifies that spirit: a clean, specimen-forward layout arranged on a luminous white field, where anatomical precision, legibility, and balanced composition come together to serve both scholarship and beauty.

This listing offers a museum-quality fine art print of Godman’s Hymenoptera plate, produced on your choice of acid-free archival paper or richly textured artist’s cotton canvas. Available in a range of sizes—from intimate study to statement piece—it can be ordered unframed or professionally framed to complement classic or contemporary interiors. Personalization and customization are available through The Unique Maps Co., including bespoke sizing and curated framing to make the piece truly your own.

About the artist: Frederick DuCane Godman stood among the eminent naturalists of the Victorian era, helping to advance a culture of meticulous fieldwork and careful classification. He moved within the expanding networks of researchers, collectors, and illustrators who exchanged knowledge internationally, and his projects channeled that collective curiosity into enduring visual records. His name is linked with an age when natural history publishing brought the world’s biodiversity into libraries, schools, and parlors, bridging popular fascination and professional science.

About the subject: Hymenoptera occupy a pivotal role in both ecology and human life—from pollination to complex social behavior—making them a natural focus for nineteenth-century taxonomy. Plates like this were designed to be read quickly and compared easily, providing consistent views of body segments, wing venation, and antennae. The result is a precise visual grammar that supported identification long before color photography, reflecting the period’s commitment to clarity and replicable knowledge.

About the style and color: Rendered in the tradition of scientific illustration, the insects are described with delicate, exacting linework and warm, naturalistic color. Muted yellows and tawny oranges articulate the bodies, while the transparent wings show soft tonal gradients that suggest their fine membranes without clutter. The symmetrical placement of specimens, crisp labels, and ample white space keep the focus on morphology, yet the plate retains undeniable decorative appeal. For collectors, naturalists, or design lovers, it’s a perfect blend of accuracy and aesthetic restraint—an elegant nod to the roots of modern biology.

Timeless and quietly striking, this print makes a thoughtful gift for birthdays, housewarmings, graduations, or holidays such as Christmas, Father’s Day, and Mother’s Day. It’s equally fitting for anyone who studies entomology, loves pollinators, or has recently traveled to nature-rich destinations—and for those who appreciate the rare meeting of art, science, and history on their walls.

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.