by Ronald A. Gagliardi edited by Dexter Sear.

"The Butterfly and Moth as Symbols in Western Art" is an iconographic study of the symbolism and occurrence of lepidoptera in Western art. Ron Gagliardi's research into art work depicting butterfies and moths (Lepidoptera), exposes numerous lepidopteral symbols. One finds a truly amazing variety of interpretation and meaning in so many different countries, cultures, civilizations and artistic periods. Butterflies and moths remain prominent in fine art, advertising, fashion and jewelry. Butterfly and the moth constitute one of the major symbols in art with a significant number of major artists incorporating butterfly or moth symbolism. The tables below presents a diverse sampling of butterfly and moth symbolism found by Ron Gagliardi in western art and design, and categorizes the different artistic styles in which butterflies and moths are depicted. Themes Found In Butterfly and Moth Symbolism The Sexes: Female, Way to a New Dress, Homosexuality, Temptation, Seduction, Sensuality Weather: Rain, Omen of Cold Weather, Omen of Sunny or Mild Weather, Omen of Thunderstorms Supernatural Beings, Creator: Divine Inspiration, Witches, Fairies, Guardian of Tobacco, Bridge, Existence of Creator, Reincarnated Being, Antidote Giver, Spokesman for Raven, Indian Watcher, Dream Carrier, God of Rain Representative Soul: Resurrection, Soul of Man, Soul of Witches Harvest: Good Harvest, Fertility of the Earth States of Being: Omen of Marriage, Omen of Birth, Death, Omen of Death, Youth, Old Age, Life Time: Day, Night, Spring, Omen of Spring, Summer, Omen of Summer, Winter Powers: Flight, Spasmodic Flight, Protection, Measuring Characteristics, Conditions, Qualities: Good Luck, Freedom, Homosexuality, Bad Luck, Nervousness, Change, Inconstancy, Heavenly, Fairy Tale, Social Butterfly, Goals Beyond Reach, Aloofness, Temptation, Foolishness, Insanity, Speed, Sensuality, Self-Destruction, Evil, Good Health, Omen of Sickness, Impermanence, Fragility, Humor, Introversion, Shyness, Being Poor, Good Aim With a Gun, Cheat in Gambling Specific Physical Items: Butterfly Kiss, Butterfly Stroke, Butterfly Table, Butterfly Yoga Position Specific Visual Items: Owl, Map, Dogface, Peacock, Eighty-eight Miscellaneous Items: Flame, Knowledge, Morning Star, Bridge, Sleep, Thought, Creative Thought, Release of Thought Ways of Appearing: Beauty of Nature, Beauty of Color, Beauty of Pattern, Beauty of Shape, Beauty of Symmetry, Decoration, Beautiful and Positive, Ugly and Negative Symbolism Relating To Butterfly and Moth Wings And Bodies Visual Appearance: Beauty of Nature, Beauty of Color, Pattern, Shape, Symmetry, Beautiful and Positive, Ugly and Negative, Evil, Heavenly, Fairy Tale, Decoration, Flame, Femininity, Sensuality, Homosexuality, Way to a New Dress, Omen of: (Sunny Weather, Fair Weather, Summer, Beneficence of Summer, Rainy Summer, Rain, Thunderstorms, Birth, Death, Marriage, Good Health, Sickness Physical Appearance: Youth, Old Age, Impermanence, Fragility, Omen of Bad Luck, Appellation of Symbols, Indicative Markings on, Death, Various Animals, Objects, Humor, Indian Watcher Characteristics Spokesman for a God (Raven), Knowledge, Guardian of Tobacco, Bridge Symbolism Relating To Butterfly and Moth Flight The Power of Flight Flight, Spasmodic Flight, Freedom, Thought, Release of Thought, Creative Thought, Dream Carrier, Sleep, Bringer of News, Divine Inspiration, Magical or Mythical Beings Type, Style, Direction or Time of Flight Spasmodic Flight, Sleep, Homosexual, Nervousness, Change, Inconstancy, Aloofness, Goals Beyond Reach, Social Butterfly, Butterfly Kiss, Temptation, Foolishness, Speed, Flame, Day, Night, Spring, Summer, Death, Rain Area or Target of Flight Sensuality, Self-Destruction, Insanity, Attraction, Foolishness, Good Luck, Wedding, Marriage, Death, Cold Weather Symbolism Relating To Butterfly and Moth Metamorphosis Stages of Development Life, Measuring, Protection, Introversion, Shyness, Resurrection Process of Metamorphosis Existence of Creator, Creator, Change, Inconstancy, Soul of Man, Soul of Witches, Reincarnated Being, Potential, Omen of Birth, Morning Star Symbols Relating To Butterfly and Moth Habits Eating Being Poor, Antidote Giver, Ugly and Negative When Active Day, Night, Omen of the Coming of Winter, Omen of Cold Weather, Summer, Spring Ambulation Death Habitiat Omen of Cold Weather, Rejection of Industrial Society, Nature Itself, Good Harvest, Fertility of the Earth, Beauty of Nature Symbolism Relating To Butterfly and Moth Enemies Type of Enemy Youth Activity of Enemy Humor, Bad Luck Miscellaneous Butterfly and Moth Symbolism Omen of Bad Luck, Omen of Good Luck, Omen of Death, Fertility of the Earth, God of Rain, God or Creator, Good Aim with a Gun, Marriage, Cheat in Gambling, Temptation, Seducer, Soul Lepidopteral Styles of Art Cultures Mexecal, Amerind, Haida-Amerind Stylized Art Abstractive Naturalism, Abstract, Semi-Abstract, Cubist, Pointillism, Fantasy, Psychedelic, Art Nouveau, Impressional, Graphic, Cartoon Illustrative Art Elementary, Primitive, Manuscript, Colonial, Late Gothic, Neo-Classicism, Obtuse, Scientific, Realistic,