Where can I see Plate 63: Six Small Birds, Including a Bluethroat and a Cuckoo(?)?

Plate 63: Six Small Birds, Including a Bluethroat and a Cuckoo(?) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Plate 63: Six Small Birds, Including a Bluethroat and a Cuckoo(?)?

Plate 63: Six Small Birds, Including a Bluethroat and a Cuckoo(?) is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Plate 63: Six Small Birds, Including a Bluethroat and a Cuckoo(?)?

Museum-quality prints of Plate 63: Six Small Birds, Including a Bluethroat and a Cuckoo(?) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Plate 63: Six Small Birds, Including a Bluethroat and a Cuckoo(?)

Joris Hoefnagel , 1594

Plate 63: Six Small Birds, Including a Bluethroat and a Cuckoo(?) 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 63: Six Small Birds, Including a Bluethroat and a Cuckoo(?

Inscription: Inscribed:Upper center in mauve ink: .1. / Vigilavi et factus sum sicut PASSER SOLITARIVS in tecto / psal: 101. (“I have watched, and am become as a sparrow all alone on the housetop.” Psalms 101:8) (Latin Vulgate Bible); center right in (gold?): LXIII.; birds in image numbered .1., .2., .3., .4., .5., and .6., in red ink Facing page: upper center in black ink: .4. / Galbula decipitur, calamus, et retibus ales. / Turget adhuc viridi cum rudis uva mero.; lower center in (gold?): ECCE COELVM, et coeli coelorum; Abyssus, et / universa terra, et quae in eis sunt, in co[n]spectu / domini co[m]movebutur, montes, simul et colles, et / fondamenta terrae.Ecc[us].16. (“Behold, the heaven, and the heavens of heavens, the deep, and all the earth, and the things that are in them, shall be moved in his sight; / The mountains also and the hills, and the foundations of the earth.” Ecclesiasticus 16:18-19) (Latin Vulgate Bible)

About this work

Overview

Created around 1594, Plate 63: Six Small Birds, Including a Bluethroat and a Cuckoo(?) is a watercolor and gold paint drawing on parchment by Joris Hoefnagel, a Flemish artist renowned for his contributions to natural history illustration and manuscript illumination.

Subject & Meaning

The piece depicts six small birds, including a identifiable Bluethroat and a possibly intended Cuckoo, set amidst twisted tree roots and rocks on a serene beachscape with water and sky. The composition reflects Hoefnagel's blend of artistic flair and precise observation of natural subjects.

Technique & Style

Hoefnagel employed watercolor and gold paint on parchment, achieving a delicate, luminous effect. The birds are rendered in soft, bright hues (brown, blue, pink) with stylized realism, suggestive of a nature study. The circular composition is framed by a gold border, enhancing its ornate, illuminated manuscript feel.

History & Provenance

As one of the last prominent manuscript illuminators, Hoefnagel's work influenced the development of topographical drawing and floral still-life painting in northern Europe. Specific provenance details for Plate 63 are not provided in the available information.

Context

This work embodies the intersection of art and science characteristic of Hoefnagel's practice, situating it within the broader Renaissance tradition of detailed natural history illustration.

Legacy

Plate 63 contributes to Hoefnagel's legacy as a pivotal figure in the evolution of natural history art and manuscript illumination, highlighting his unique balance of precision and aesthetic appeal.