Who painted Plate 28: Sea Bream(?) and Other Fish?

Plate 28: Sea Bream(?) and Other Fish was painted by Joris Hoefnagel in 1594.

Where can I see Plate 28: Sea Bream(?) and Other Fish?

Plate 28: Sea Bream(?) and Other Fish is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Plate 28: Sea Bream(?) and Other Fish?

Plate 28: Sea Bream(?) and Other Fish is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Plate 28: Sea Bream(?) and Other Fish?

Museum-quality prints of Plate 28: Sea Bream(?) and Other Fish are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Plate 28: Sea Bream(?) and Other Fish

Joris Hoefnagel , 1594

Plate 28: Sea Bream(?) 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 red/violet ink: MAGIS MVTVS QVAM PISCIS. (“More mute than a fish.” Erasmus, _Adages_, 1.5.29) (trans. Bass 2019, 194); fish at upper left in image numbered .1. in red ink; center right in brown ink: XXVIII. Facing page: upper center in black ink: Loquere terr[a]e et respondebit tibi / Et enarrabunt pisces maris. Job 12. (“Speak to the earth and it shall answer you; and the fishes of the sea shall tell.” Job 12:8) (Latin Vulgate Bible); lower center in blue/black ink: Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in Corde Viri: / Sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud. pro: 20. (“Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water; but a wise man will draw it out.” Proverbs 20:5) (Latin Vulgate Bible)

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1594, this watercolor and gold-painted illustration on parchment presents a circular tableau of sixteen fish rendered in subtle blues, greens and gilded accents. The composition is framed by a calm water surface marked with gentle ripples, and a Latin inscription in red, Magis mutus quam piscis, arches above the scene.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a variety of marine species, likely intended as a study of ichthyological form rather than a narrative scene. The Latin phrase, translating roughly to “more mute than fish,” may allude to the silent observation of nature, emphasizing the artist’s focus on accurate representation over storytelling.

Technique & Style

Employing transparent watercolor washes, Hoefnagel builds colour through successive glazing, allowing underlying tones to shine through. Gold pigment is applied to the scales and fins, creating a reflective quality that distinguishes the fish against the muted blue background, a technique common in late‑Renaissance manuscript illumination.

History & Provenance

Joris Hoefnagel, a Flemish illustrator renowned for natural history and topographical works, produced this piece as part of a broader series of marine studies. The drawing reflects his engagement with the scientific curiosity of the period, merging artistic skill with observational detail.

Context

The illustration belongs to a tradition of 16th‑century naturalistic studies that combined artistic aesthetics with emerging scientific inquiry. Such works were often compiled in codices or albums that served both decorative and educational purposes for patrons interested in the natural world.

Legacy

Hoefnagel’s meticulous rendering of fish contributed to the development of natural history illustration in Northern Europe, influencing later artists who sought to document flora and fauna with comparable precision and decorative flair.