Who painted Plate 29: Pink Rose and Rosebud?

Plate 29: Pink Rose and Rosebud was painted by Joris Hoefnagel in 1594.

Where can I see Plate 29: Pink Rose and Rosebud?

Plate 29: Pink Rose and Rosebud is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Plate 29: Pink Rose and Rosebud?

Plate 29: Pink Rose and Rosebud is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Plate 29: Pink Rose and Rosebud

Joris Hoefnagel , 1594

Plate 29: Pink Rose and Rosebud 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. Created circa 1594, this miniature combines watercolor and gold pigment on a parchment support.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1594, this miniature combines watercolor and gold pigment on a parchment support. It portrays a single pink rose accompanied by a tightly coiled bud, the stem looping with small leaves, all enclosed within a circular frame edged in gold on a light‑brown background.

Subject & Meaning

The image focuses on a cultivated rose, emphasizing its delicate petals and the nascent bud, a study that highlights the transient beauty of flowering plants. The surrounding Latin inscription serves a decorative function rather than conveying narrative content.

Technique & Style

Hoefnagel applied successive translucent washes, building the rose’s form through glazing that renders soft, luminous petals. Gold paint outlines the circular border and adds a subtle sheen, while fine brushwork defines the stem’s curls and leaf venation, reflecting a meticulous, almost scientific observation.

History & Provenance

Joris Hoefnagel, a Flemish artist noted for natural‑history illustration, produced this work toward the end of the manuscript illumination tradition. It exemplifies his contribution to the emergence of floral still‑life motifs in northern Europe during the late sixteenth century.

Context

The piece belongs to a broader corpus of botanical drawings that served both aesthetic and documentary purposes, aligning with contemporary interests in cataloguing plant species and the decorative arts of illuminated books.