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Archetypa studiaque patris Georgii Hoefnagelii [Part 2, Plate 8]

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 8] 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 shows a detailed black-and-white drawing of insects, plants, and a mouse. The moths, beetles, and caterpillars are drawn with careful lines, some hanging from branches or resting on leaves. A mouse sits in the middle, surrounded by acorns and a small bird’s nest. Tiny details like antennae, wings, and textures of shells are all clearly marked. The words at the top, *Nasci. Pati. Mori.*, mean "to be born, to suffer, to die" in Latin. This engraving looks like a science study from long ago, showing how people once recorded nature in precise drawings. Next, check out the technique: engraving.

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