Who painted Plate 2: Two Eagles?

Plate 2: Two Eagles was painted by Joris Hoefnagel in 1576.

Where can I see Plate 2: Two Eagles?

Plate 2: Two Eagles is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Plate 2: Two Eagles?

Plate 2: Two Eagles is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Plate 2: Two Eagles?

Museum-quality prints of Plate 2: Two Eagles are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Plate 2: Two Eagles

Joris Hoefnagel , 1576

Plate 2: Two Eagles is a gouache drawing by the Renaissance artist Joris Hoefnagel. It dates from 1576 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1576, this miniature drawing presents two eagles rendered in watercolor and gold on parchment.

Inscription: Inscribed:Upper center in (gold?): AQVILA IN NVBIBVS. (“An eagle in the clouds.” Erasmus, _Opera Omnia_, 2:2:342 (1.9.20) (trans. Bass 2019, 22); center right in (gold?): .II.; birds in image numbered .1. and .2., in red ink; center right on stone block in image, in black ink: GESTABVNT TIMIDAS ALIORVM SCVTA COLVMBAS : / MAGNANIMI CLYPIVM CAESARIS ISTA DECENT. (“The shields of others will carry timid doves; those [eagles] of yours [alone] fit the shield of magnanimous Caesar.”) (trans. Bass 2019, 21); lower center on rock in image, in black ink: .G.HF.Ao.76.; lower center in red ink: AQVILA NON CAPTAT MVSCAS. Facing page: Upper center in black ink: Ne erigas oculos tuos ad opes, quas no[n] potes habere: quia / faciunt sibi pennas quali Aquilae, et volabunt In Coelum; lower center in black ink: Tentanda via est, qua me quoq[ue] possum / Tollere humo, via q[ue] virum volitare supra ora.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1576, this miniature drawing presents two eagles rendered in watercolor and gold on parchment. The composition is confined within a circular frame, the larger bird perched on the left and the smaller one soaring above, its wings outstretched. A pale beige ground and a subtle oval border frame the scene, emphasizing the birds as the focal point.

Subject & Meaning

The work juxtaposes a stationary, mature eagle with a younger, airborne counterpart, suggesting a contrast between grounded authority and dynamic freedom. The careful rendering of plumage and posture reflects a keen observation of avian anatomy, typical of Hoefnagel’s interest in natural history.

Technique & Style

Hoefnagel employed fine watercolor washes to model the brown feathers, accentuating light and shadow with delicate tonal shifts. Gold paint highlights the beak and talons, adding a luminous quality. The precision of line and the miniature scale align the piece with the late Renaissance tradition of illuminated manuscripts.

History & Provenance

Joris Hoefnagel, a Flemish painter and miniaturist, was among the final generation of manuscript illuminators. His career spanned naturalistic studies, topographical maps, and mythological scenes, and this drawing exemplifies his contribution to the emergence of northern European floral and animal still‑life motifs.

Context

The piece belongs to a period when detailed observation of the natural world was gaining scholarly interest, intersecting art and early scientific illustration. Hoefnagel’s work bridges the decorative illumination of medieval books and the more empirical approach that would later characterize botanical and zoological atlases.