Who painted Plate 5: An Ox and a Camel?

Plate 5: An Ox and a Camel was painted by Joris Hoefnagel in 1594.

Where can I see Plate 5: An Ox and a Camel?

Plate 5: An Ox and a Camel is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Plate 5: An Ox and a Camel?

Plate 5: An Ox and a Camel is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Plate 5: An Ox and a Camel?

Museum-quality prints of Plate 5: An Ox and a Camel are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Plate 5: An Ox and a Camel

Joris Hoefnagel , 1594

Plate 5: An Ox and a Camel 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:upper center in (gold?): BOS LASSVS FORTIVS FIGIT PEDEM.; right center in gold: V.; animals in image numbered .1. and .2., in red ink; lower center in red ink: CAMELVM DEGLVTIVNT QVI CVLICE[M] COLANT. Facing page: upper center in brown ink: In te inimicos nostros ventilabimus cornu; / Et in no[m]i[n]e tuo spergemus insurgentes in nos.ps:43.( “Through you will we push down our enemies: through your name will we despise them that rise up against us.” Psalms 43:6) (Latin Vulgate Bible); lower center in black ink: Producens Terra foenum iumentis, et herbam / servituti hominum ps: 103. (“Bringing forth grass for cattle and herb for the service of men.” Psalms 103:14) (Latin Vulgate Bible)

About this work

Overview

Executed circa 1594, this sheet belongs to a series of natural-history studies by Joris Hoefnagel, a Flemish artist active in courts across Europe. Rendered in watercolor and gold on parchment, the drawing pairs two quadrupeds, one familiar, one foreign, within a single composition, exemplifying the era’s fascination with direct observation of the animal kingdom.

Subject & Meaning

The juxtaposition of a European ox and an Asian camel underscores contemporary curiosity about global fauna. Latin inscriptions above and below identify each species, framing the image as both scientific record and aesthetic exercise. The camel’s decorative harness and bead suggest human domestication, while the ox’s unadorned form evokes rural life closer to home.

Technique & Style

Hoefnagel employed translucent watercolor washes to model the animals’ pelts and musculature, reserving gold for highlights that lend luminosity to horns and cloth. Delicate glazing builds depth without obscuring the parchment’s surface, a method that bridges medieval manuscript illumination and emerging still-life traditions.

History & Provenance

Created during Hoefnagel’s tenure at the imperial court in Prague, the drawing likely formed part of a larger album presented to a patron. Such works circulated among collectors who valued both their documentary precision and ornamental appeal. The sheet remains intact, preserving its original inscriptions and color saturation.

Context

The late sixteenth century saw growing interest in natural history, driven by overseas exploration and cabinets of curiosities. Hoefnagel’s studies responded to this trend, offering visual inventories of creatures both common and exotic. His approach reflected a broader shift from symbolic representation toward empirical description in European art.

Legacy

Though modest in scale, Hoefnagel’s animal studies contributed to the development of independent still-life painting in northern Europe. Later artists drew on his meticulous technique and compositional strategies, particularly in works that combined scientific inquiry with decorative elegance.