Plate 49: A Grasshopper, a Caterpillar, a Butterfly, a Moth, and Other Insects
1594
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1594
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This page shows a grasshopper, caterpillar, butterfly, moth and other bugs on parchment. Joris Hoefnagel painted them with tiny brushes dipped in bright watercolor. Gold paint outlines wings and legs, making the insects gleam under glass. These pictures were meant to teach science, not just look pretty. Hoefnagel worked for European nobles who loved nature books. Each bug is labeled like a specimen in a collector’s case. Next time you’re near Washington, DC, find Plate 49 at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
