Open full image Pin

Archetypa studiaque patris Georgii Hoefnagelii [Part 4, Plate 5]

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 5] 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 snake coiled around a branch, its head near a round fruit. Butterflies, beetles, and spiders cling to leaves and flowers. The word *Enigma* sits at the top, and a Latin poem runs along the bottom. The artist used sharp lines and shading to make each creature look real. The snake’s scales and the butterfly’s wings are carefully drawn. Next, check out engraving to see how artists like this made prints.

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