This watercolour, dedicated to Edward B. Lewis, was painted by his wife Pamela Lewis. Butterflies and other insects refer to Edward Lewis’s scientific interest in genetic traits and the development of organisms. In addition to science, the flute was central to his life. He played the instrument from early childhood and continued playing in a chamber orchestra and taking lessons. While fighting his losing battle against cancer, he found comfort in playing the flute. Chess pieces also feature in the picture, reflecting another of Lewis’s interests. The keys hint at his absent-mindedness, which caused him to lose his car keys, glasses and other important objects.
The watercolour was donated to the Nobel Prize Museum by Pamela Lewis in 2016.
