Plate 17: Brimstone and Meadow Brown(?) Butterflies, a Blue Chaser, and Two Small Insects
1594
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1594
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
You see butterflies and insects with wings spread on parchment. Gold edges frame each tiny creature in bright colors. The blue chaser stands out against the softer browns. This was made for a royal collector who loved natural oddities. Artists used these images to study creatures up close. Hoefnagel mixed science and art before cameras existed. Look at these details next time you’re at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
