1594
gouache
vellum
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Plate 60: Leafy Spurge Hawkmoth Caterpillar, Gray Dagger Caterpillar, and Pupae is a 1594 gouache by Joris Hoefnagel, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This painting shows a caterpillar with a long, segmented body, featuring a mix of green, black, and red colors. It has small legs and a distinctive red horn on its rear end. The caterpillar is positioned on a curved branch, with a few twigs extending from it. A small, brown pupa is also visible on the branch. The caterpillar's body is adorned with small, white spots and has a red stripe running along its back. The branch is depicted in a naturalistic style, with subtle shading and texture. The background of the painting is a soft, creamy color. The level of detail and realism in this painting is impressive, making it a great example of Renaissance art. To learn more about the techniques used in this style, look into the Renaissance movement.
Joris Hoefnagel or Georg Hoefnagel (1542 – 24 July 1601) was a Flemish painter, printmaker, miniaturist, draftsman and merchant.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
