Who painted Plate 39: Eight Spiders?

Plate 39: Eight Spiders was painted by Joris Hoefnagel in 1594.

Where can I see Plate 39: Eight Spiders?

Plate 39: Eight Spiders is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Plate 39: Eight Spiders?

Plate 39: Eight Spiders is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Plate 39: Eight Spiders?

Museum-quality prints of Plate 39: Eight Spiders are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Plate 39: Eight Spiders

Joris Hoefnagel , 1594

Plate 39: Eight Spiders 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:Center right in brown ink: XXXIX. Facing page: Upper center in black ink: Cognoscetur dominus iudicia faciens: in operibus / manuum suarum co[m]prehensus est peccator.ps.9. (“The Lord shall be known when he executes judgments: the sinner has been caught in the works of his own hands.” Psalms 9:17) (Latin Vulgate Bible)

About this work

Overview

Joris Hoefnagel, a Flemish artist active in the late sixteenth century, produced Plate 39, titled Eight Spiders, circa 1594. Executed on parchment with watercolor and gold pigment, the work presents a compact composition of eight arachnids set against a plain white field and enclosed by a circular gilt frame.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is a larger spider with elongated, hairy legs, while seven smaller specimens are arranged around it. The rendering emphasizes anatomical detail rather than decorative coloration, using muted browns, blacks and a single vivid red accent to highlight specific body parts.

Technique & Style

Hoefnagel combined transparent watercolor washes with fine brushwork, building layers to achieve subtle tonal variation. Gold paint outlines the border, creating a luminous frame that contrasts with the matte parchment surface. The precise line work and careful observation reflect the artist’s background in manuscript illumination and natural history illustration.

History & Provenance

Created during a period when illuminated manuscripts were waning, the piece illustrates Hoefnagel’s transition from courtly book decoration to independent natural studies. It survives as part of a larger collection of his zoological plates, which were circulated among collectors interested in scientific observation and decorative art.

Context

Hoefnagel’s spider studies belong to a broader Flemish tradition of detailed flora and fauna depiction that prefigured the emergence of still‑life painting in northern Europe. By treating insects and arachnids with the same care as botanical subjects, he helped bridge decorative manuscript art and the nascent genre of independent natural‑history illustration.