A rare image of happiness and harmony between the lovers. The butterfly’s presence suggests this harmony extends into the natural world, but the “happy spell” may be short lived and, like the delicate butterfly, dash off at any moment.

The large hand in the foreground presents an unusual perspective effect, making the tiny butterfly seem huge, and reaches almost into the viewer’s space in a provocative and attention-grabbing way. This device is Mannerist, upsetting the picture’s calm equilibrium in a way analogous to the way a new romance can upend people’s day-to-day routines and make everything else seem unimportant.