Artwork

Plate 17: White Heron(?) and Black Stork Killing a Snake with a Dragon's Blood Tree

Plate 17: White Heron(?) and Black Stork Killing a Snake with a Dragon's Blood Tree is a gouache drawing by the Renaissance artist Joris Hoefnagel. It dates from 1594 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:Upper center in (gold?): Numquid nosti tempus IBICVM In petris? vel / Parturientes cervas observasti? Job.38.(“Know you the time when the wild goats bring forth among the rocks or have you observed the hinds when they fawn?” Job 39:1) (Latin Vulgate Bible); center right in (gold?): XVII.; birds in image numbered .1. and .2., in red ink; dragon’s blood tree in image numbered .3., in red ink Facing page: Upper center in black ink: .2. / Ibidis anguinecis Basiliscus nasciture ovo / Principium sequitur, res mala s[a]epe bonum. [In red ink]: A:S. (Stockelius?); lower center in red ink: Aegyptus portenta Colit, Crocodilon adorat / Pars haec, illa panet saturam serpentibus IBIM. / Effigies sacri nitet aurea Cercopitheci.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1594 by Joris Hoefnagel, a Flemish artist renowned for natural history illustrations, topographical views, and manuscript illuminations, Plate 17 is a watercolor and gold paint drawing on parchment. It showcases Hoefnagel's meticulous style, blending natural observation with decorative flair.

Subject & Meaning

The piece depicts a serene yet dramatic scene: a white heron and a black stork flank a dragon's blood tree, with the stork attacking a contorted snake entwined around the trunk. The contrast between the peaceful setting and the violent act adds depth to the illustration.

Technique & Style

Hoefnagel employed watercolor and gold paint on parchment, achieving a refined elegance. The dragon's blood tree is detailed with green leaves and a reddish-brown trunk, while the birds are precisely rendered, highlighting the artist's observational skill.

History & Provenance

As one of the last manuscript illuminators, Hoefnagel's work contributed to the evolution of topographical drawing and the emergence of floral still-life painting in northern Europe by the late 16th century.

Context

Plate 17 reflects Hoefnagel's role in bridging medieval manuscript illumination with the burgeoning interests in natural history and independent floral still-life genres of the late Renaissance.

Legacy

This work exemplifies Hoefnagel's influence on the development of natural history illustration and floral still-life painting, leaving a legacy in the transition from medieval to early modern European art practices.