Lacertilia - Lizards plant Leo Gestel (11 November 1881

Leo Gestel (11 November 1881

The unusual shapes and rich colours make it a striking focal point for a living room

though he and his work are associated with Munich and Bavaria in southern Germany

and it is easy to see why — the symmetry is hypnotic and the colours feel almost lit from within

• Paper weight: 5

Lacertilia - Lizards plant Leo Gestel (11 November 1881Quick, alert and dressed in extraordinary colour, the lizards on this Haeckel plate practically dart across the page. Geckos, agamas and gliding "flying dragons" are arranged in lively poses, their scaled bodies and outstretched limbs rendered in greens, blues and warm earth tones. Ernst Haeckel balanced scientific accuracy with real visual energy, giving each reptile a sense of motion and character. The image is part of Kunstformen der Natur (Art