Who painted Plate 6: Five Catfish and Sturgeon(?)?

Plate 6: Five Catfish and Sturgeon(?) was painted by Joris Hoefnagel in 1594.

Where can I see Plate 6: Five Catfish and Sturgeon(?)?

Plate 6: Five Catfish and Sturgeon(?) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Plate 6: Five Catfish and Sturgeon(?)?

Plate 6: Five Catfish and Sturgeon(?) is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Plate 6: Five Catfish and Sturgeon(?)?

Museum-quality prints of Plate 6: Five Catfish and Sturgeon(?) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Plate 6: Five Catfish and Sturgeon(?)

Joris Hoefnagel , 1594

Plate 6: Five Catfish and Sturgeon(?) 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 circa 1594, this watercolor and gold work on parchment depicts a grouping of five fish rendered against a wavy blue backdrop.

Inscription: Inscribed:Fish in image numbered .1., .2, .3., .4., and .5. in red ink; center right in (gold?): VI. Facing page: upper center in black ink: Elevaverunt flumina fluctus suos / a vocibus aquarum multarum ps:92 (“The floods have lifted up their waves, with the noise of many waters.” Psalms 92:3-4) (Latin Vulgate Bible); lower center in red ink: Viderunt te AQVAE Deus, viderunt te aquae / et timuerunt, et turbati sunt Abyssi. ps:76. (“The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you; and they were afraid and the depths were troubled.” Psalms 76:17) (Latin Vulgate Bible)

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1594, this watercolor and gold work on parchment depicts a grouping of five fish rendered against a wavy blue backdrop. The composition is enclosed within a gilded circular frame, and each specimen is marked with a red numeral, suggesting its role as an illustration in a larger natural‑history volume.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents a variety of large‑mouthed, spiny‑finned fish, some resembling sturgeon and others catfish, arranged in a dynamic swimming pose. By cataloguing the creatures with numbers, the artist emphasizes observation and classification, reflecting the period’s growing interest in documenting the natural world.

Technique & Style

Employing delicate watercolor washes combined with gilded accents, the artist builds subtle tonal layers to suggest scale texture and water movement. The use of parchment as support, together with the gold pigment, signals a continuation of illuminated manuscript practices while moving toward independent still‑life representation.

History & Provenance

The work is attributed to Joris Hoefnagel, a Flemish draftsman noted for his meticulous natural‑history drawings. Hoefnagel, originally trained in commerce, shifted to art and contributed to the evolution of scientific illustration in northern Europe during the late sixteenth century.