Artwork
Plate 5: A Hooded Falcon and Its Wild Counterpart

Plate 5: A Hooded Falcon and Its Wild Counterpart 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:Center right in (gold?): .V.; birds in image numbered .1., in red ink. Facing page: Upper center in red ink: Quis ante dedit mihi, ut reddam ei? O[m/n]ia quae / sub Coelo sunt, mea sunt. Job 41 (“Who has given me before that I should repay him? All things that are under heaven are mine.” Job 41:2) (Latin Vulgate Bible); lower center in black ink: Laudate dominum bestiae, et universa pecora, / serpentes, et volucres pennatae. ps.148. (“Praise the Lord, beasts and all cattle, serpents and feathered fowls.” Psalms 148:7 & 10) (Latin Vulgate Bible)
About this work
Overview
Plate 5: A Hooded Falcon and Its Wild Counterpart is a watercolor and gold paint drawing on parchment created by Joris Hoefnagel around 1594. The work showcases Hoefnagel's skill in natural history illustration and manuscript illumination.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts two birds within a gold circle: a hooded falcon grasping a small mammal, possibly a rabbit, and a wild hawk perched calmly beside it. The contrast between the two birds highlights their differences, with the plain background emphasizing their forms.
Technique & Style
Hoefnagel employed watercolor and gold paint on parchment to achieve a precise and ornate effect. The use of watercolor allowed for delicate coloration, while the gold paint added a touch of luxury to the work.
Context
As a Flemish artist, Hoefnagel was part of a tradition that valued detailed studies of flora and fauna. His work reflects the blending of scientific observation and decorative artistry characteristic of late manuscript illumination.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Joris Hoefnagel or Georg Hoefnagel (1542 – 24 July 1601) was a Flemish painter, printmaker, miniaturist, draftsman and merchant.















