Who painted Plate 61: Blue Crow(?), Jackdaw, Chickadee or Tit, and Other Birds?

Plate 61: Blue Crow(?), Jackdaw, Chickadee or Tit, and Other Birds was painted by Joris Hoefnagel in 1594.

Where can I see Plate 61: Blue Crow(?), Jackdaw, Chickadee or Tit, and Other Birds?

Plate 61: Blue Crow(?), Jackdaw, Chickadee or Tit, and Other Birds is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Plate 61: Blue Crow(?), Jackdaw, Chickadee or Tit, and Other Birds?

Plate 61: Blue Crow(?), Jackdaw, Chickadee or Tit, and Other Birds is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Plate 61: Blue Crow(?), Jackdaw, Chickadee or Tit, and Other Birds?

Museum-quality prints of Plate 61: Blue Crow(?), Jackdaw, Chickadee or Tit, and Other Birds are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Plate 61: Blue Crow(?), Jackdaw, Chickadee or Tit, and Other Birds

Joris Hoefnagel , 1594

Plate 61: Blue Crow(?), Jackdaw, Chickadee or Tit, and Other Birds 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 61: Blue Crow(?

Inscription: Inscribed:Upper center in blue/black ink: Degener Infamis, mentito nomine Cygnum / Graculus appellat sese: CORNICVLA plumas / pavonis furata, cupit pavo ipsa videri. / in red ink: ALIVD NOCTVA SONAT, ALIVD CORNIX.; center right in (gold?): LXI; birds in image numbered .1., .2., .3., .4., and .5., in red ink; on banner/scroll at center right of image in (gold?): moveat cornicula risum / furtiuis nudata coloribus.; lower center in blue/black ink: CORNICVLVM OCVLI NON CONFIGE[N]DI. Facing page: upper center in black ink: Vinere Cornices multos dicuntur in annos. / cur nos angusta conditione sumus?; lower center in black ink: Neve domum fabricans, linquas mutila[m]q[ue] rude[m]q[ue], / Ne fors insideat, cornicans garrula Cornix.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1594, Plate 61: Blue Crow(?), Jackdaw, Chickadee or Tit, and Other Birds is a watercolor and gold paint drawing on parchment by Joris Hoefnagel, a Flemish artist renowned for natural history illustrations and manuscript illumination.

Subject & Meaning

The piece depicts five birds of varied species perched on bare branches and a mound of dirt, set against a simple gold background with scattered green leaves. The subjects are rendered with a near-scientific precision, reflecting Hoefnagel’s detailed approach to natural history.

Technique & Style

Hoefnagel employed watercolor and gold paint on parchment, achieving a delicate, luminous effect. The birds are painted in a palette of bright blues, blacks, and earthy browns, with careful attention to the textures and forms of the natural subjects.

History & Provenance

Part of Hoefnagel’s late 16th-century work focusing on topography and natural subjects, this piece contributes to his legacy in influencing northern European still-life painting and detailed flora and fauna depiction.

Context

Within the broader artistic landscape, Plate 61 exemplifies the Flemish contribution to natural history illustration during the late Renaissance, where scientific observation began to merge with artistic practice.

Legacy

This work reflects Hoefnagel’s impact on the development of naturalistic representation in art, bridging scientific accuracy with aesthetic appeal, a hallmark of his contributions to European artistic and scientific discourse.