Plate 33: Moth and Butterfly with other Insects and a Columbine Flower
1594
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1594
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This tiny painting shows moths, butterflies, beetles, and a pink columbine flower on parchment. Every bug is sharp enough to count its legs. The gold background makes the colors pop like a bug under sunlight. Hoefnagel didn’t just draw bugs—he painted them alive. He mixed watercolor with glazing, layering colors to show wings like stained glass. His tiny worlds feel real. Look next at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
