Who painted Plate 37: Six Fish, Including Carp?

Plate 37: Six Fish, Including Carp was painted by Joris Hoefnagel in 1594.

Where can I see Plate 37: Six Fish, Including Carp?

Plate 37: Six Fish, Including Carp is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Plate 37: Six Fish, Including Carp?

Plate 37: Six Fish, Including Carp is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Plate 37: Six Fish, Including Carp

Joris Hoefnagel , 1594

Plate 37: Six Fish, Including Carp 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

Created circa 1594, Plate 37 presents a group of six fish, among them a carp, rendered in delicate watercolor and subtle gold on a parchment support.

Created circa 1594, Plate 37 presents a group of six fish, among them a carp, rendered in delicate watercolor and subtle gold on a parchment support. The composition showcases a meticulous observation of aquatic life, characteristic of the artist’s broader interest in natural history and the emerging interest in detailed botanical and zoological illustration in late‑sixteenth‑century Northern Europe.

Subject & Meaning

The work focuses on the anatomical accuracy and varied textures of the fish, emphasizing their natural forms rather than allegorical or symbolic content. By arranging the specimens together, the artist invites a comparative study of species, reflecting the period’s growing curiosity about the natural world and the desire to catalogue living organisms with precision.

Technique & Style

Employing fine watercolor washes, the artist achieves translucency in the fish’s scales and flesh, while touches of gold leaf highlight reflective surfaces and add a luminous quality to the composition. The use of parchment, a traditional manuscript material, allows for a smooth surface that supports both the delicate pigment layers and the metallic accents, merging illumination practices with emerging naturalistic drawing.

History & Provenance

The piece is attributed to Joris Hoefnagel, a Flemish draftsman noted for his contributions to natural history illustration and manuscript illumination. Produced toward the end of his career, it represents one of his later works before the decline of illuminated manuscripts, and it has been preserved as part of a larger collection of his scientific drawings, passing through several European private collections before entering a museum holding.