Plate 30: Seven Moths
1594
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1594
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
You see seven moths on a sheet of parchment. They’re tiny. One is brown with wavy lines. Another is bright orange. Real gold flakes outline some wings. This is a study page from a bigger book. The artist painted each moth exactly. No guesswork. The gold dots catch light like tiny mirrors. He worked with watercolor and a glazing trick. Layers of thin paint make colors pop. If you like this, check out Hoefnagel, Joris.
