Plate 15: Grayling Butterfly, Magpie Moth, and Two Chrysalides

Hoefnagel employed fine watercolor washes to render delicate wing patterns, while lepidochromy—a method that incorporates metallic powders—adds a subtle sheen to the specimens’ bodies. Gold paint highlights structural details, and the parchment support provides a smooth, luminous ground that enhances the precision of the drawing.

The piece originates from the late sixteenth‑century workshop of Joris Hoefnagel, a Flemish artist noted for his work in manuscript illumination and natural history illustration. It reflects his role as one of the final practitioners of illuminated manuscript art in northern Europe, bridging medieval illumination and emerging scientific illustration.

During Hoefnagel’s career, the study of flora and fauna began to appear in topographical and still‑life genres across northern Europe. This plate exemplifies that shift, merging decorative elegance with the empirical observation that would later characterize modern natural history illustration.