Who painted Plate 65: Thrushes and Other Birds?

Plate 65: Thrushes and Other Birds was painted by Joris Hoefnagel in 1594.

Where can I see Plate 65: Thrushes and Other Birds?

Plate 65: Thrushes and Other Birds is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Plate 65: Thrushes and Other Birds?

Plate 65: Thrushes and Other Birds is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Plate 65: Thrushes and Other Birds?

Museum-quality prints of Plate 65: Thrushes and Other Birds are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Plate 65: Thrushes and Other Birds

Joris Hoefnagel , 1594

Plate 65: Thrushes 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.

Inscription: Inscribed:upper center in red/rose ink: TVRDVS IPSE SIBI MORTEM CACAT.; center right in (gold?): LXV.; birds in image numbered .1., .2., .3., and .4. Facing page: upper center in black ink: Et Merulus modulans, tam pulchris concinit odis: / Nocte ruente tamen, carmina nulla cantat.; lower center in black ink: Dum Turdus trutilat: sturnus tum pisitat ore: / sed quod mane canit vespere non recolunt.

About this work

Overview

Plate 65: Thrushes and Other Birds is a watercolor and gold paint work on parchment created by Joris Hoefnagel around 1594. It exemplifies the artist's skill in natural history illustration.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts four birds in a forest setting, with a Latin inscription suggesting a symbolic or moralistic interpretation. The phrase roughly translates to 'the bird brings death to itself', implying a hidden meaning behind the naturalistic scene.

Technique & Style

Hoefnagel employed watercolor and glazing techniques to achieve a detailed, realistic representation of the birds and their environment. The use of gold paint adds a touch of luminosity to the work.

Context

As a Flemish artist active in the late 16th century, Hoefnagel was part of a tradition of manuscript illumination that influenced the development of floral still-life painting in northern Europe.