Artwork
Plate 36: Five Fish, Including Carp(?)

Plate 36: Five Fish, Including Carp(?) 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:Fish in image numbered .1., .2., .3., .4., and .5., in red ink: center right in brown ink: XXXVI. Facing page: upper center in black ink: Laneus Engani Lupus excipit ora Timani: / Aequoreo dulces cum sale pastus aquas.; lower center in red/violet ink: Vertitur in teneram Cariem rimisq[ue] debiscit: / Si qua diu solitis, cymba vacavit AQVIS.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1594 by Joris Hoefnagel, a Flemish artist, Plate 36: Five Fish, Including Carp(?) is a watercolor and gold paint drawing on parchment, exemplifying the artist's blend of artistic and scientific skills in natural history illustration.
Subject & Meaning
The piece depicts five diverse fish in a serene, shallow pool with a sandy bottom, showcasing Hoefnagel's detailed observation of natural subjects. The species are rendered with varied colors and patterns, one notably having dark spots and a long tail.
Technique & Style
Hoefnagel employed watercolor for the fish and their environment, achieving lifelike detail. A gold circle frames the scene against a light background, adding a luxurious element. The use of glazing techniques likely contributed to the depth and vibrancy of the colors.
History & Provenance
As one of the last manuscript illuminators, Hoefnagel's work influenced the development of topographical drawing and floral still-life in northern Europe. This piece specifically highlights his contribution to natural history illustration.
Context
Plate 36 reflects the late 16th-century interest in detailed natural observation, bridging artistic expression and scientific documentation, characteristic of the period's scholarly and artistic pursuits.
Legacy
Through works like Plate 36, Hoefnagel played a role in transitioning from manuscript illumination to independent genres like floral still-life, impacting the evolution of northern European art.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Joris Hoefnagel or Georg Hoefnagel (1542 – 24 July 1601) was a Flemish painter, printmaker, miniaturist, draftsman and merchant.

















