Artwork

Plate 18: Two Butterflies and a Moth with a Damselfly, Two Ants, and Four Other Insects

Plate 18: Two Butterflies and a Moth with a Damselfly, Two Ants, and Four Other Insects 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 red ink: CICADA CICADAE CHARA FORMICAE FORMICA.; insects in image numbered .1., .2., .3., .4., .5., .6., .7., and .8., in red ink; center right in brown ink: .XVIII.; lower center in brown ink: CITIVS QVAM FORMICAE, PAPAVER. Facing page: Upper center in red ink: Formica populus infirmus, qui pr[a]eparat / In messe cibum sibi pro.30.(“The ants, a feeble people, which provide themselves food in the harvest.” Proverbs 30:25) (Latin Vulgate Bible); lower center in red ink: Aestate[m] meminit, brumae formica sequentis: / Colligit idcirco provida messe cibum. A:S. (Stockelius?) (“The ant remembers the winter that follows summer, and therefore providently gathers food at harvest time.”) (trans. Vignau-Wilberg 1994, 69)

About this work

Overview

Plate 18: Two Butterflies and a Moth with a Damselfly, Two Ants, and Four Other Insects is a detailed watercolor and precious metal paint drawing on parchment, created by Joris Hoefnagel around 1594.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing presents a meticulous study of eight insects, showcasing Hoefnagel's fascination with natural history and his ability to balance artistic expression with near-scientific accuracy.

Technique & Style

Hoefnagel employed watercolor and silver and gold paint on parchment, leveraging the reflective qualities of precious metals to capture the subtle play of light on the insects' bodies, particularly their wings.

History & Provenance

As one of the last manuscript illuminators, Hoefnagel's work contributed to the emergence of floral still-life painting in northern Europe, with this piece exemplifying his transitional role between medieval illumination and early modern scientific illustration.

Context

Created in the late 16th century, this work reflects the burgeoning interest in natural history and the precise observation of the natural world, characteristic of the period's scientific and artistic endeavors.