Who painted Plate 39: Squid, Gurnard, Pike, and Other Fish?

Plate 39: Squid, Gurnard, Pike, and Other Fish was painted by Joris Hoefnagel in 1594.

Where can I see Plate 39: Squid, Gurnard, Pike, and Other Fish?

Plate 39: Squid, Gurnard, Pike, and Other Fish is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Plate 39: Squid, Gurnard, Pike, and Other Fish?

Plate 39: Squid, Gurnard, Pike, and Other Fish is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Plate 39: Squid, Gurnard, Pike, and Other Fish?

Museum-quality prints of Plate 39: Squid, Gurnard, Pike, and Other Fish are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Plate 39: Squid, Gurnard, Pike, and Other Fish

Joris Hoefnagel , 1594

Plate 39: Squid, Gurnard, Pike, and Other Fish 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:upper center in red ink: COMITE[M] SIBI DVCIT SEPIA PERCAM.; fish in image numbered .1., .2., .3., .4., and .5., in red ink; shells in image numbered .6. and .7., in red ink; plant in image numbered .8., in red ink; center right in (gold?): XXXIX. Facing page: upper center in black ink: Tum qu[a]erimur, crassus Calamo quod pe[n]deat humor; / Nigra quod infusa vanescat sepia lympha.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1594 by the Flemish artist Joris Hoefnagel, this miniature drawing presents a grouping of five marine creatures rendered in watercolor and gold on a parchment support. The composition is enclosed within a circular frame edged in gold, and a brief Latin caption appears at the top, presumably identifying the species depicted.

Subject & Meaning

The work portrays a squid, a gurnard, a pike, and two additional fish, arranged to suggest a naturalistic tableau rather than a narrative scene. The inclusion of a small plant with yellow blossoms and pink shells adds a decorative botanical element, reflecting the period’s interest in cataloguing and celebrating the diversity of the natural world.

Technique & Style

Hoefnagel employed delicate watercolor washes combined with fine gold detailing, a method inherited from manuscript illumination. Layered glazing creates subtle tonal variations in the blue‑green background, while the gold edge and accents emphasize the ornamental quality typical of late‑16th‑century northern European still‑life miniatures.

History & Provenance

The drawing belongs to a series of natural history plates produced by Hoefnagel, who was among the last artists to work extensively in illuminated manuscript formats. Though the original manuscript context is unclear, the piece survived as an individual sheet, later entering museum collections as an example of early scientific illustration.

Context

At the time of its creation, northern Europe was witnessing the emergence of a genre that combined accurate observation of flora and fauna with decorative composition. Hoefnagel’s background in topographical and mythological illustration positioned him to contribute to this nascent natural‑still‑life tradition, bridging Renaissance naturalism and decorative art.