Who painted Plate 9: A Great White(?) Shark, Two Seals, and Two Fish?

Plate 9: A Great White(?) Shark, Two Seals, and Two Fish was painted by Joris Hoefnagel in 1594.

Where can I see Plate 9: A Great White(?) Shark, Two Seals, and Two Fish?

Plate 9: A Great White(?) Shark, Two Seals, and Two Fish is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Plate 9: A Great White(?) Shark, Two Seals, and Two Fish?

Plate 9: A Great White(?) Shark, Two Seals, and Two Fish is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Plate 9: A Great White(?) Shark, Two Seals, and Two Fish?

Museum-quality prints of Plate 9: A Great White(?) Shark, Two Seals, and Two Fish are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Plate 9: A Great White(?) Shark, Two Seals, and Two Fish

Joris Hoefnagel , 1594

Plate 9: A Great White(?) Shark, Two Seals, and Two Fish 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. Plate 9: A Great White(?

Inscription: Inscribed:Creatures in image numbered .1., 2., .3., and .4. in red ink; center right in brown ink: IX. Facing page: upper center in red ink: Iubilate in conspectu regis domini: Moveatur MARE et / Plenitudo eius: orbis terraru[m] et qui habitat in eo. ps.97. (“Make a joyful noise before the Lord our king; let the sea be moved and the fulness thereof: the world and they that dwell therein.” Psalms 97:6 and 7) (Latin Vulgate Bible); lower center in black ink: Qui convertit MARE in aridam, in flumine / pertransibunt pede, ibi laetabimur in ipso / ps: 65. (“Who turns the sea into dry land, in the river they shall pass on foot: there shall we rejoice him.” Psalms 65:6) (Latin Vulgate Bible)

About this work

Overview

Plate 9: A Great White(?) Shark, Two Seals, and Two Fish is a watercolor and gold paint drawing on parchment created by Joris Hoefnagel around 1594. It exemplifies the artist's skill in natural history illustration and manuscript illumination.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a shark, two seals, and two fish in a gold-framed underwater scene. One seal grasps a fish, while the other floats with its head above water. The shark's open mouth suggests potential interaction, but its intent is ambiguous.

Technique & Style

Hoefnagel employed watercolor and gold paint on parchment to achieve a delicate, luminous effect. The use of soft watercolors and gold accents creates a sense of depth and subtlety in the underwater scene.

History & Provenance

Joris Hoefnagel was a Flemish painter and draftsman active in the late 16th century. As one of the last manuscript illuminators, he contributed to the development of topographical drawing and floral still-life painting in northern Europe.

Context

This work reflects Hoefnagel's interest in detailed observational studies of natural subjects, characteristic of his natural history illustrations.