Artwork
Plate 9: Two Pheasants with Fruiting Plants
Plate 9: Two Pheasants with Fruiting Plants 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
Plate 9: Two Pheasants with Fruiting Plants is a watercolor and gold paint drawing on parchment, created by Flemish artist Joris Hoefnagel around 1594. This work showcases Hoefnagel's expertise in natural history illustration and manuscript illumination.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts two pheasants by a serene pond, set against a backdrop of a tree laden with red berries. One bird, vibrant and upright, contrasts with the other, subdued and drinking. The scene may symbolize the coexistence of vitality and calm in nature.
Technique & Style
Hoefnagel employed watercolor for the central image and gold paint to create a decorative border, framing the scene. His meticulous attention to detail is evident in the textured feathers and berries, blending naturalistic observation with ornate decoration.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1594, this piece contributes to Hoefnagel's body of work in natural history illustration and the nascent floral still-life genre in northern Europe. Its specific provenance details are not provided.
Context
This work reflects Hoefnagel's influence on the development of independent still-life art through his precise, scientifically informed depictions of flora and fauna, characteristic of his contributions to manuscript illumination.
Legacy
Plate 9 exemplifies Hoefnagel's artistic legacy, highlighting his ability to merge detailed natural observation with decorative elements, a hallmark of his style in both animal drawings and botanical illustrations.
Artist & collection
Artist
Joris Hoefnagel or Georg Hoefnagel (1542 – 24 July 1601) was a Flemish painter, printmaker, miniaturist, draftsman and merchant.
Forum Vulcani: The Hot Springs at Pozzuoli
Plate 76: Insects with a Pink and Cream Columbine
Plate 51: Two Sand Lizards, a Common Parsley Frog(?), and a Caterpillar
Plate 1: Elephant with Insects
Plate 60: Magpie, Crow, and Goldfinch
Plate 67: Two Doves beneath a Gourd and Apples
Plate 31: Seven Moths
Plate 21: Swamp Hen and Woodcock with a Streaked Rosefinch, a Finch, and Oak Galls
Plate 12: Pair of Wood Grouse with a Melon and Pears
Plate 64: Two Partridges, a Wren, and Other Birds
Plate 16: Gray Heron and Purple Heron(?) with a Sunflower
Plate 50: An Avocet with Two Other Birds
Plate 42: Two Gray Geese with a Third Bird and Hanging Grapes
Plate 13: Two Curly Gray Chickens (Silkie Chickens?)
Plate 30: A Muscovy(?) Duck, a Four-Legged Duck, and Two Other Birds
Plate 32: A Green-Winged Teal, a Juvenile Green Woodpecker, and Two Other Birds
Plate 47: Shore Birds with a Perching Bird
Plate 8: Bearded Vulture with Two Birds of Prey