Artwork
Plate 19: Two Great Egrets with Green Breeding Masks
Plate 19: Two Great Egrets with Green Breeding Masks 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 watercolor and gold paint work on parchment, created around 1594, is the work of Joris Hoefnagel, a Flemish painter and miniaturist. It is titled Plate 19: Two Great Egrets with Green Breeding Masks.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts two great egrets in breeding plumage standing near water, showcasing the artist's attention to detail and ability to capture the birds' natural behavior. The egrets are rendered in shades of gray with touches of green and yellow.
Technique & Style
Hoefnagel's use of watercolor and gold paint on parchment demonstrates his skill as a manuscript illuminator. The work blends precise observation with decorative elements, such as gold highlights, to create a detailed and colorful depiction of the birds and their surroundings.
History & Provenance
As one of the last manuscript illuminators, Hoefnagel contributed to the development of floral still-life painting in northern Europe. This work is an example of his natural history illustrations, a genre in which he was known to excel.
Artist & collection
Artist
Joris Hoefnagel or Georg Hoefnagel (1542 – 24 July 1601) was a Flemish painter, printmaker, miniaturist, draftsman and merchant.
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