Archetypa studiaque patris Georgii Hoefnagelii [Part 1, Plate 10]

1592

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From the collection of National Gallery of Art

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This image shows a black-and-white engraving packed with tiny details. You see a mouse nibbling on a plant, a caterpillar on a leaf, a butterfly with spread wings, and a snail on a stem. There’s also a grasshopper, a chrysalis, and a spiderweb with a spider. The background has flowers and branches, all drawn with sharp lines. The text at the top reads *Mus non uni fidit antro*, which means “The mouse does not trust one den.” This suggests a warning about relying on just one hiding place. The careful, precise lines show how much detail was possible in this style. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like Hoefnagel created such sharp images.

Archetypa studiaque patris Georgii Hoefnagelii [Part 1, Plate 10]

About this work

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