1594
gouache
vellum
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Plate 17: White Heron(?) and Black Stork Killing a Snake with a Dragon's Blood Tree is a 1594 gouache by Joris Hoefnagel, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This painting depicts a serene scene of two birds standing on either side of a tree, with a snake entwined around the trunk. The bird on the left is a white heron, while the one on the right is a black stork. The tree, adorned with green leaves and a reddish-brown trunk, appears to be a dragon's blood tree. A striking detail in the painting is the snake, which is being killed by the black stork. The snake's body is twisted and contorted, adding a sense of drama to the otherwise peaceful scene. The use of watercolor and gold paint on parchment gives the painting a sense of elegance and refinement. If you're interested in learning more about the artist's use of watercolor, you might want to look up Hoefnagel, Joris.
Joris Hoefnagel or Georg Hoefnagel (1542 – 24 July 1601) was a Flemish painter, printmaker, miniaturist, draftsman and merchant.
See the richer artist page
