Artwork

Plate 17: Brimstone and Meadow Brown(?) Butterflies, a Blue Chaser, and Two Small Insects

Plate 17: Brimstone and Meadow Brown(?) Butterflies, a Blue Chaser, and Two Small Insects is a gouache drawing by the Renaissance artist Joris Hoefnagel. It dates from 1594 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

This 1594 watercolor and gold paint drawing on parchment, attributed to Joris Hoefnagel, features a detailed depiction of various insects, including butterflies, a dragonfly (Blue Chaser), and smaller creatures, showcased against a parchment background with gold accents.

Subject & Meaning

The piece highlights Hoefnagel's blend of scientific observation and artistic flair, catering to the era's fascination with natural history. Commissioned for a royal collector, it exemplifies the pre-photographic era's method of detailed creature study through art.

Technique & Style

Characterized by precise, colorful renderings of insects with outstretched wings, the work showcases Hoefnagel's mastery of watercolor and gold paint on parchment. The gold edges framing each creature add a decorative, illuminative touch, typical of his contribution to the transition from manuscript illumination to floral still-life painting.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1594 for a royal patron with an interest in natural curiosities, this drawing is now part of the collection at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

Context

As one of the last prominent manuscript illuminators, Hoefnagel's work bridges the gap between medieval illuminated manuscripts and the emerging field of natural history illustration in Northern Europe during the late 16th century.