Quick, 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 Forms in Nature), the celebrated series in which Haeckel reframed the animal kingdom as a source of ornament and design. A zoologist of huge influence, he saw pattern and structure everywhere in nature, and his reptile studies show off his talent for turning a scientific plate into something genuinely decorative.

On the wall, this print is full of life and a little exotic. It works brilliantly in a study, library or living room with natural materials and greenery, and it brings personality to a child's or teenager's room without feeling juvenile. The varied colours let it complement both earthy and jewel-toned interiors, and it pairs naturally with Haeckel's frog and turtle plates for a vivarium-inspired gallery wall.

Reproduced on museum-quality matte paper with archival, fade-resistant colour and a non-reflective finish, available in 30×40, 50×70 and 70×100 cm, framed or unframed. Characterful vintage natural-history art with genuine pedigree.