Plate 40: Salmon, Trout, and Freshwater(?) Fish
1594
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1594
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This painting shows seven fish floating in calm, light blue water. Each fish is different—some have spots, others are smooth and silvery. The background is simple, just a flat blue with tiny wavy lines to look like ripples. The whole scene is framed inside a gold circle on a light paper. The artist used watercolor and gold paint on thin parchment, which makes the colors look soft and slightly glowing. The fish are drawn carefully, with attention to their scales and fins. Next, check out the technique: watercolor, glazing to see how artists build light with layers.
