Throughout art history, paintings have captured more than just human expression and natural beauty—they’ve also unintentionally preserved remnants of the real world. One of the most fascinating discoveries made by conservators and researchers is the presence of real insects embedded within the paint and varnish of historical artworks. These tiny creatures, trapped for centuries, offer unique insights into the working conditions of artists, the environmental history of paintings, and even methods for dating artwork.
How Do Insects Get Trapped in Paintings?
Most cases of insects being caught in paintings are purely accidental. Before the advent of climate-controlled studios, artists often worked in spaces open to the elements. Freshly painted canvases or wooden panels took weeks or months to fully dry, providing ample time for bugs to become trapped in the surface.
There are three main ways insects have been found inside paintings:
- Oil Paint Entrapment – Oil paint takes a long time to dry, and flies, gnats, and beetles have been found stuck in brushstrokes.
- Varnish Preservation – Once a painting was finished, a protective varnish layer was applied, which sometimes sealed in dust, pollen, and small insects.
- Later Restoration or Storage – Some paintings acquired insects later, trapped in layers of grime, soot, or conservation materials.
Far from being just a curiosity, these insects act like time capsules, preserving details about the artwork’s environment and history.
Fascinating Examples of Real Insects Found in Paintings
1. The Fly in van Gogh’s “Olive Trees” (1889)
One of the most famous modern discoveries of an insect in a painting happened in 2017 when conservators at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City X-rayed Vincent van Gogh’s “Olive Trees” (1889). They discovered the fossilized remains of a tiny grasshopper embedded in the paint.
Van Gogh painted outdoors and used thick impasto brushstrokes, making it easy for bugs to get stuck in the paint. Interestingly, the grasshopper was missing its abdomen and head, suggesting it was already dead when it landed on the canvas. This accidental insect adds authenticity to van Gogh’s reputation as a plein air (outdoor) painter who immersed himself in nature.
2. Abraham Mignon’s Still-Life Paintings (1670s)
A particularly famous example comes from the Dutch Golden Age painter Abraham Mignon (1640–1679), known for his highly detailed still-life paintings. While Mignon painted insects as artistic elements, researchers discovered that some of his paintings contained real insect remains in the varnish.
The analysis showed that tiny flies and beetles had landed on the paintings while they were drying, becoming permanently embedded. The irony is striking—Mignon meticulously painted insects to symbolize decay and transience, yet his paintings also physically trapped real insects in time.
3. 17th-Century Mexican Colonial Paintings
In 2019, conservationists analyzing a 17th-century Mexican painting found multiple well-preserved insects trapped inside the varnish layer. Believe it or not, some of these insects were in such pristine condition that entomologists were able to identify their species.
The study revealed that these insects were native to Mexico and were active in the region during the time the painting was created. This not only helped authenticate the painting’s origin, but it also provided climate data from centuries ago.
4. A Beetle in a 400-Year-Old Portrait
During the restoration of a 17th-century European portrait, conservators discovered the exoskeleton of a varnish beetle fused to the paint surface. Varnish beetles were common in old painting workshops, attracted to the organic materials in oil paints and varnishes.
Interestingly, the beetle’s preserved body structure helped scientists identify its species, which turned out to be one that only existed in Europe in the 1600s. This served as additional evidence that the painting was genuinely from that time period.
5. Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” and the Fly Problem
Leonardo’s famous fresco, “The Last Supper” (1495–1498), isn’t an oil painting, but it has suffered from insect-related issues. Over centuries, the flaking surface of the fresco has trapped dirt, dust, and small insect fragments.
During conservation work, restorers discovered tiny fly wings and beetle legs embedded in the decaying plaster, showing that insects had invaded the monastery where it was painted.
What Can We Learn From Insects in Paintings?
1. They Reveal Artists’ Working Conditions
Finding real insects in paintings helps art historians understand where and how artists worked. Paintings created outdoors (like van Gogh’s) are more likely to have insects than those made in controlled indoor environments.
2. They Help Authenticate and Date Paintings
Insects can be used as forensic evidence to verify a painting’s age. If a bug species found in a painting did not exist in the region at the supposed time of creation, it could indicate a forgery or later modifications.
For example, if a painting claimed to be from 16th-century France contains a bug species that only appeared in Europe in the 19th century, it would be a red flag. So dead insects can be unwitting crime fighters!
3. They Provide Environmental and Climate Data
Insects preserved in varnish can contain pollen, dust, and organic material that tells us about the environment when the painting was created. Scientists can analyze these tiny remnants to reconstruct air quality and climate conditions from centuries ago.
4. They Create Challenges for Conservation
Restorers sometimes face a dilemma—should they remove insects from paintings or leave them as part of the artwork’s history? In many cases, conservators leave them intact, as they serve as historical artifacts.
Final Thoughts: When Art and Nature Collide
The accidental presence of insects in paintings serves as a fascinating intersection of art, history, and science. These tiny creatures, often unnoticed for centuries, provide valuable insights into the studios of great artists, the climate of past eras, and even the authenticity of famous works.
As technology advances, future conservation efforts may uncover even more hidden details within paintings, revealing not just artistic techniques but also forgotten traces of the natural world captured in art.
