Plate 48: Ten Crabs
1594
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1594
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This image shows ten different crabs drawn in bright colors against a light blue watery background. Each crab is labeled with a number, and they vary in size and shape—some are round, some spiky, and others have long legs. The whole scene is framed inside a circular border with gold paint at the top and edges. The title at the top, *Cancer leporem*, means “crabs” in Latin, and the artist used watercolor and gold to make the details stand out. The crabs look like they’re floating in shallow water, each one carefully observed. If you like detailed nature drawings, look up Hoefnagel, Joris.
