Who painted Plate 22: Mullet, Flying Fish, Eels, and Other Fish?

Plate 22: Mullet, Flying Fish, Eels, and Other Fish was painted by Joris Hoefnagel in 1594.

Where can I see Plate 22: Mullet, Flying Fish, Eels, and Other Fish?

Plate 22: Mullet, Flying Fish, Eels, and Other Fish is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Plate 22: Mullet, Flying Fish, Eels, and Other Fish?

Plate 22: Mullet, Flying Fish, Eels, and Other Fish is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Plate 22: Mullet, Flying Fish, Eels, and Other Fish?

Museum-quality prints of Plate 22: Mullet, Flying Fish, Eels, and Other Fish are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Plate 22: Mullet, Flying Fish, Eels, and Other Fish

Joris Hoefnagel , 1594

Plate 22: Mullet, Flying Fish, Eels, and Other Fish 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 brown ink: Vere nono poscunt genitalia semina terrae: / Vere magis teneri curatur vulnus amoris:; fish in image numbered .1., .2., .3., .4., 5., .6., .7., .8., .9., .10., .11., and .12.; center right in (gold?): XXII.; lower center in brown ink: Conveniunt veneris captae dulcedine gentes / squammigerae, totus pontus tum fernet amore. Facing page: upper center in blue ink: Mirabiles elationes maris / mirabilis in illis dominus / ps: 92 (“Wonderful are the surges of the sea; wonderful is the Lord on high” Psalms 92:4) (Latin Vulgate Bible); lower center in red ink: Omnia flumina intrant in mare, et mare non redundat: / Ad locu[m] unde exeunt flumina, revertuntur, ut iterum / fluant: Ecc[es]1. (“All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea does not overflow: unto the place from whence the rivers come, they return, to flow again.” Ecclesiastes 1:7) (Latin Vulgate Bible)

About this work

Overview

Created around 1594, Plate 22: Mullet, Flying Fish, Eels, and Other Fish is a watercolor and gold paint drawing on parchment by Flemish artist Joris Hoefnagel, exemplifying his natural history illustration expertise.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a diverse array of fish species in a circular arrangement, showcasing Hoefnagel’s meticulous observation of marine life and his role in advancing naturalistic representation in northern European art.

Technique & Style

Hoefnagel employed watercolor for the primary composition and gold paint for accents, achieving a blend of naturalism and elegance on the parchment substrate, characteristic of his illustrative approach.

History & Provenance

While the exact commission or original context of Plate 22 is not detailed here, its creation circa 1594 places it within Hoefnagel’s period of contributing to scientific and topographical illustration developments.

Context

This work is part of the broader Renaissance movement, reflecting the era’s growing interest in scientific accuracy and natural history. For deeper insight, comparing it with contemporaneous naturalist artworks could provide further context.

Legacy

Plate 22 contributes to Hoefnagel’s legacy in natural history and scientific illustration, influencing the development of floral and natural subject painting in northern Europe during the late Renaissance.