1594
gouache
vellum
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Plate 12: Pair of Wood Grouse with a Melon and Pears is a 1594 gouache by Joris Hoefnagel, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows two birds with long tails standing on a patch of grass. Above them, a branch holds three fruits: two small pears and one large, bumpy melon. The colors are soft—earthy browns on the birds, greenish-yellow on the melon, and muted golds in the background. The Latin text at the top is a clue this was made for a book about nature. The gold paint around the edge makes it look fancy, like a special illustration. Next, check out watercolor, glazing to see how artists built up colors like this.
Joris Hoefnagel or Georg Hoefnagel (1542 – 24 July 1601) was a Flemish painter, printmaker, miniaturist, draftsman and merchant.
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