1594
gouache
vellum
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Plate 28: Eight Moths, Including a Large Yellow Underwing and Grey Dagger is a 1594 gouache by Joris Hoefnagel, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This painting shows five moths and three small insects pinned inside a round gold border. The biggest moth has bright yellow underwings with brown edges, while the others are duller brown or gray. The background is plain white parchment, and the insects look like they’re floating in space. The artist used a mix of watercolors and gold paint to make the moths stand out. The yellow wings pop against the muted colors of the other insects. Next, look up watercolor, glazing to see how artists built up colors like this.
Joris Hoefnagel or Georg Hoefnagel (1542 – 24 July 1601) was a Flemish painter, printmaker, miniaturist, draftsman and merchant.
See the richer artist page
