Plate 28: Sea Bream(?) and Other Fish
1594
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1594
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This painting shows a circle of water filled with 16 different fish, each colored carefully in blues, greens, and golds. The fish float in a calm sea, some facing left, some right, with wavy lines marking the water’s surface. Above them, a Latin phrase is written in red: *"Magis mutus quam piscis."* The artist used gold paint to highlight the fish’s scales and fins, making them stand out against the blue background. This was a common way to add detail in Renaissance art. Next, look up technique: watercolor, glazing to see how artists built up colors like this.
