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Archetypa studiaque patris Georgii Hoefnagelii [Part 2, Plate 11]

Jacob Hoefnagel

1592

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance

Dominant colour

Archetypa studiaque patris Georgii Hoefnagelii [Part 2, Plate 11] 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 black-and-white engraving shows bugs, flowers, and a snail tangled in vines. A butterfly sits on a leaf, a beetle clings to a stem, and a snail curls up nearby. The lines are sharp and detailed, filling every inch with tiny cross-hatched shadows. The artist packed the scene with tiny creatures and plants, making it feel like a busy garden. The text at the top and bottom is in Latin and French, adding a scholarly touch. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made prints with metal plates.

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