Who painted Plate 56: Barn Owls with a Mouse, Eagle Owl(?) and Another Owl?

Plate 56: Barn Owls with a Mouse, Eagle Owl(?) and Another Owl was painted by Joris Hoefnagel in 1594.

Where can I see Plate 56: Barn Owls with a Mouse, Eagle Owl(?) and Another Owl?

Plate 56: Barn Owls with a Mouse, Eagle Owl(?) and Another Owl is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Plate 56: Barn Owls with a Mouse, Eagle Owl(?) and Another Owl?

Plate 56: Barn Owls with a Mouse, Eagle Owl(?) and Another Owl is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Plate 56: Barn Owls with a Mouse, Eagle Owl(?) and Another Owl?

Museum-quality prints of Plate 56: Barn Owls with a Mouse, Eagle Owl(?) and Another Owl are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Plate 56: Barn Owls with a Mouse, Eagle Owl(?) and Another Owl

Joris Hoefnagel , 1594

Plate 56: Barn Owls with a Mouse, Eagle Owl(?) and Another Owl 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. Created around 1594, Plate 56: Barn Owls with a Mouse, Eagle Owl(?

Inscription: Inscribed:Upper center in blue/violet ink: VLVLAS ATHENAS.; center right in (gold?): LVI.; owls in image numbered .1., .2., and .3.; tree in image numbered .4. Facing page: Upper center in black ink: Et ululant ululae, lugubri voce canentes: / Inq[ue] paludiferis, Buteo bubit aquis.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1594, Plate 56: Barn Owls with a Mouse, Eagle Owl(?) and Another Owl is a watercolor and gold paint drawing on parchment by Flemish artist Joris Hoefnagel.

Subject & Meaning

The subject features a group of owls, including Barn Owls, an Eagle Owl (tentatively identified), and another unspecified owl, accompanied by a mouse, showcasing Hoefnagel's focus on natural history illustration.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolor and gold paint on parchment, the work exemplifies Hoefnagel's adherence to manuscript illumination traditions, notable for its meticulous naturalistic detail.

History & Provenance

As one of the last prominent manuscript illuminators, Hoefnagel's Plate 56 contributes to his legacy in late 16th-century European art, specifically influencing topographical drawing and floral still-life painting in the north.

Context

Within northern European art of the late 16th century, this piece situates Hoefnagel at the intersection of natural history documentation and the waning tradition of manuscript illumination.

Legacy

Plate 56 reflects Hoefnagel's impact on the development of naturalistic representation in northern Europe, bridging manuscript illumination and the emergence of detailed, observational art forms.