Artwork

Plate 64: Leopard Slug, Ground Beetle Larva, a Rat-tailed Maggot, and Other Creatures

Plate 64: Leopard Slug, Ground Beetle Larva, a Rat-tailed Maggot, and Other Creatures 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.

Inscription: Inscribed:center right in brown ink: LXIV.; creatures in image numbered .1., .2., .3., and .4. Facing page: upper center in brown ink: Lingent gentes pulverem sicut serpentes: velut reptile / terrae proturbabuntur de Aedibus suis. Micheas.7. (“They shall lick the dust like serpents, as the creeping things of the earth, they shall be disturbed in their houses.” Micah 7:17) (Latin Vulgate Bible); lower center in blue/black ink: Omnis TERRA adoret te, et psallet tibi: / Psalmum dicat nomini tuo. ps.65 (“Let all the earth adore you, and sing to you; let it sing a psalm to your name.” Psalms 65:4) (Latin Vulgate Bible)

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1594 by Joris Hoefnagel, a Flemish artist transitioning from manuscript illumination to natural history illustration, Plate 64 features a detailed watercolor and gold paint drawing on parchment of five small creatures against a gold-edged, rounded background.

Subject & Meaning

The piece showcases Hoefnagel's meticulous observation of natural specimens, including a leopard slug, ground beetle larva, rat-tailed maggot, and others, reflecting the era's burgeoning scientific interest in detailed, realistic documentation of the natural world.

Technique & Style

Characterized by muted tones (browns, blacks, soft golds) and precise lines, the work employs a scientific notebook-like approach, with numbered labels for each creature, highlighting Hoefnagel's blend of artistic and observational skills.

History & Provenance

Hoefnagel, initially trained in law and commerce, shifted to art, contributing significantly to the shift from illuminated manuscripts to independent naturalistic studies in northern Europe during the late 16th century.

Context

This piece aligns with the period's emphasis on scientific and topographical accuracy, positioning Hoefnagel at the forefront of a transitional period in European artistic and scientific practices.

Legacy

Plate 64 exemplifies Hoefnagel's precise animal drawings, influencing the development of natural history illustration and leaving a legacy visible in his extensive body of detailed, scientifically oriented artworks.