A study of iridescence, natural history, and Florentine traditions through the taxonomic presentation of a dragonfly specimen.

The Odonata Specimen was conceived to explore the intersection between Florentine representations of nature and the taxonomic presentation of entomological shadow boxes. The dragonfly's dorsal view draws from both scientific display conventions and the flattened perspectives found in insect pietra dura, a tradition dating to the 17th century that demands a highly deliberate approach to stone selection.

Rather than replicating the surface qualities of opaque wings or the optical properties of transparent ones, the work captures the dragonfly's sublime iridescence, suspended in an eternal moment that celebrates the marvels of nature.

Bumblebee onyx evokes a sunlit network of wing veins, while lapis lazuli and sodalite create the illusion of shimmering iridescence within the wing cells. Where the wings overlap and obscure light transmission, the non-iridescent upper wing is rendered using a clear layer of rutilated quartz positioned over the uninterrupted iridescent hues beneath.