1594
gouache
vellum
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Plate 15: Common Crane and Bittern(?) is a 1594 gouache by Joris Hoefnagel, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This painting features two birds standing on a grassy shore, with a body of water behind them. The bird on the left is larger, with a long neck and legs, and a grayish-brown plumage. The smaller bird on the right has a more mottled brown and white feathers, with a distinctive beak. The birds are surrounded by various plants, including tall grasses and what appears to be a yellow flower. The background of the painting is a soft, creamy color, with a subtle gradient that suggests a sky or atmosphere. The level of detail and realism in the painting is impressive, with intricate textures and patterns visible in the birds' feathers and the surrounding vegetation. For more on the technique used in this painting, look up "watercolor".
Joris Hoefnagel or Georg Hoefnagel (1542 – 24 July 1601) was a Flemish painter, printmaker, miniaturist, draftsman and merchant.
See the richer artist page
