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Archetypa studiaque patris Georgii Hoefnagelii [Part 2, Plate 12]

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 12] 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 drawing shows bugs and flowers arranged in a tight, busy frame. A beetle clings to a pod, butterflies hover near flowers, and tiny insects crawl on stems. The lines are sharp and dark, with no color—just black and white. The artist focused on small details, like the veins on leaves or the texture of a butterfly’s wings. This kind of careful drawing was often used to study nature. Next, check out engraving to see how artists like this made precise 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