Artwork
Plate 4: Four Salmon

Plate 4: Four Salmon 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., and .4.; center right in brown ink: IV. Facing page: upper center in blue ink: Namq[ue] solent grossi pisces, mangiare minutos. macaro.; lower center in black ink: Grandibus exigui sunt Pisces Pissibus esca.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1594, Plate 4: Four Salmon is a watercolor and gold paint drawing on parchment attributed to Joris Hoefnagel, a Flemish artist noted for natural history and topographical works.
Subject & Meaning
The piece depicts four salmon, showcasing Hoefnagel's meticulous approach to natural subjects, where scientific accuracy converges with artistic refinement.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolor and gold paint on parchment, the work exemplifies Hoefnagel's skill as one of the last manuscript illuminators, bridging traditional techniques with emerging floral still-life tendencies in northern Europe.
History & Provenance
Dating to around 1594, the artwork is part of Hoefnagel's late 16th-century output, contributing to the development of floral still-life painting in northern Europe during this period.
Legacy
Plate 4: Four Salmon reflects Hoefnagel's influence on the rise of natural history illustration and floral still-life painting, highlighting his blend of observation and artistry.
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.



















