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Archetypa studiaque patris Georgii Hoefnagelii [Part 4, 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 4, 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 picture is a black-and-white engraving packed with tiny details. You see a butterfly perched on a stem, a caterpillar munching on leaves, and two plump snails on either side. Below, a flower with five petals grows next to a praying mantis and a few beetles. The background has more plants and insects, all drawn with sharp lines. The Latin words at the top and center are a poem about nature, written in a neat, old-fashioned script. The whole scene looks like a quiet garden, but it’s actually a close-up of how plants and bugs interact. If you like this style, 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