1594
gouache
vellum
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Plate 42: Jewel Beetle with a Rosary Pea and a Flower (Oleander?) is a 1594 gouache by Joris Hoefnagel, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a bright green beetle with shiny wings, standing on a plain background. To its left is a small red-and-black seed, and to its right grows a delicate white flower with pink accents. The whole scene is framed in a circle with gold leaf, like a decorative border. The beetle’s name is written in Latin at the top—*"In me cudetur fabula"*—which roughly means "my story will be told." The tiny seed and flower might hint at why. Next, look up technique: watercolor, glazing to see how artists built up color layer by layer.
Joris Hoefnagel or Georg Hoefnagel (1542 – 24 July 1601) was a Flemish painter, printmaker, miniaturist, draftsman and merchant.
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