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Archetypa studiaque patris Georgii Hoefnagelii [Part 4, Plate 6]

Jacob Hoefnagel

1592

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance

Dominant colour

Archetypa studiaque patris Georgii Hoefnagelii [Part 4, Plate 6] is a 1592 ink by Jacob Hoefnagel, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacob Hoefnagel
When & what style?: 1592 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image is a black-and-white engraving packed with tiny details. You see a crab clutching a globe, a frog mid-jump, a butterfly with delicate wings, and a branch heavy with flowers, pods, and a spiky fruit. The background is filled with insects, a snail, and a spider—all drawn with sharp lines and careful shading. The title at the top hints this was meant to show nature’s "types" or ideal forms, like a science textbook illustration. The artist focused on precision, making even small bugs look real. Want to see more like this? Check out engraving to learn how artists carved these fine lines.

About the artist

Artist

Jacob Hoefnagel

Jacob Hoefnagel (also 'Jacobus', 'Jakob' or 'Jakub") (1573 in Antwerp – c.1632 in Hamburg), was a Flemish painter, printmaker, miniaturist, draftsman, art dealer, diplomat, merchant and politician.

See the richer artist page