1580
gouache
vellum
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Plate 39: Three Puppies with a Crate and a Bunch of Grapes is a 1580 gouache by Joris Hoefnagel, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This round picture shows three fluffy puppies playing near a small wooden crate. Above them hangs a bunch of red grapes and a single pear. The ground looks like grass, and there’s a tiny red box with a handle on the right side. The dogs seem curious—one is sitting, one is lying down, and the third is walking toward the crate. The Latin text at the top means “Dogs smell things far away, but their own stench too.” This image was made as part of a book about animals, where each page is a tiny, detailed scene. Next, check out watercolor, glazing to see how artists built up colors like layers of light.
Joris Hoefnagel or Georg Hoefnagel (1542 – 24 July 1601) was a Flemish painter, printmaker, miniaturist, draftsman and merchant.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
