Who hasn't stopped to watch a dragonfly and been mesmerized by its jeweled body and gossamer wings? This digital exhibition brings together twenty-one remarkable objects, from delicate watercolors to ornate three-dimensional representations, scientific illustrations to colorful paintings, that capture our fascination with an insect that seems almost magical: a creature of water and air, a glimmering, dazzling spark of energy and light.

Featuring Open Access and Open Content images generously shared by museums across the country, these works reveal the dragonfly as both wonder of nature and subject of human imagination. Zoom in and look closely. We promise you’ll be delighted by what you find.