1594
gouache
vellum
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Plate 2: Two Giraffes with an Attendant is a 1594 gouache by Joris Hoefnagel, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This painting shows two giraffes standing on a small island in a body of water. One giraffe is lighter with a pinkish-brown coat, and the other is darker with a more earthy tone. A small person in colorful clothes is standing near the first giraffe, pointing toward it. The giraffes are surrounded by a simple landscape with a plant on the right side. The whole scene is framed by a gold circle, giving it a polished look. Next, look up watercolor, glazing to see how artists build up colors like this.
Joris Hoefnagel or Georg Hoefnagel (1542 – 24 July 1601) was a Flemish painter, printmaker, miniaturist, draftsman and merchant.
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