Artwork
Two Dromedaries and a Camel
Two Dromedaries and a Camel is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Adriaen Collaert. It dates from 1597 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Two Dromedaries and a Camel is an early modern print executed as an engraving on laid paper, attributed to the Flemish artist Adriaen Collaert and dated to around 1597. The work presents a tranquil landscape populated by three large mammals—a camel and two dromedaries—set against a gently rolling valley that includes a village, a river, and distant mountains.
Subject & Meaning
The composition foregrounds the three beasts, each rendered in a relaxed pose on a grassy ground, suggesting a moment of rest during a journey. Behind them, modest dwellings and a meandering watercourse frame a serene rural scene, inviting contemplation of the coexistence between human settlement and exotic animals, a theme common in late‑sixteenth‑century curiosity about distant lands.
Technique & Style
Collaert employs the fine, incised lines characteristic of engraving to model fur, musculature, and the texture of the rocky terrain. The use of cross‑hatching creates subtle tonal variations, while the clear delineation of architectural elements and foliage demonstrates the artist’s command of spatial depth within the limits of a monochrome medium.
History & Provenance
The print originates from the prolific workshop of the Collaert family, known for producing illustrative plates for books and collectors. Though specific ownership records are scarce, the work appears in several early modern catalogues of animal prints, indicating its circulation among connoisseurs of natural history and decorative prints in the Low Countries.
Context
Created during a period when European interest in exotic fauna was expanding, the image reflects the era’s fascination with travel narratives and scientific observation. Engravings such as this served both decorative and educational purposes, often accompanying texts on geography, zoology, or armorial heraldry.
Artist & collection
![Animals from an Ancient Wall Painting [Plate III], by Italian 16th Century](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/italian-16th-century--animals-from-an-ancient-wall-painting-plate-iii--14d3e3b797914853-w320.webp)
