Who painted A Groundhog or Marmot with a Branch of Plums?

A Groundhog or Marmot with a Branch of Plums was painted by Jacopo Ligozzi in 1605.

Where can I see A Groundhog or Marmot with a Branch of Plums?

A Groundhog or Marmot with a Branch of Plums is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is A Groundhog or Marmot with a Branch of Plums?

A Groundhog or Marmot with a Branch of Plums is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of A Groundhog or Marmot with a Branch of Plums?

Museum-quality prints of A Groundhog or Marmot with a Branch of Plums are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

A Groundhog or Marmot with a Branch of Plums

Jacopo Ligozzi , 1605

A Groundhog or Marmot with a Branch of Plums is a watercolor drawing by the Baroque artist Jacopo Ligozzi. It dates from 1605 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:signed and dated on stone ledge to the left of the marmot's tail, dark brown ink, JACOPO LIGOZZI FACIEBAT.1605.; verso, upper left, black ink, 416; verso upper center, graphite, signed iacopo Ligozzi faciebat 1605; verso upper right, graphite, S23/3600

About this work

Overview

Executed in watercolor, ink, and touches of white gouache applied over faint graphite sketches, the piece records a single marmot positioned on a plum branch.

Jacopo Ligozzi’s 1605 drawing, titled A Groundgum or Marmot with a Branch of Plums, is a small-scale work on burnished laid paper. Executed in watercolor, ink, and touches of white gouache applied over faint graphite sketches, the piece records a single marmot positioned on a plum branch. The composition combines zoological observation with botanical detail, reflecting the artist’s reputation for precise natural studies.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing presents a marmot, sometimes identified as a groundhog, seated on a branch laden with ripe plums. Ligozzi renders both animal and fruit with careful attention to anatomical form and leaf structure, suggesting an interest in cataloguing nature rather than allegorical interpretation. The juxtaposition of the creature and fruit underscores the period’s fascination with empirical observation of the natural world.

Technique & Style

Ligozzi began with light graphite outlines that guide the subsequent layers of ink and watercolor. Transparent washes define the marmot’s fur and the plum’s skin, while opaque white gouache highlights highlights and adds volume. The burnished laid paper provides a smooth, reflective surface that enhances the delicate line work and subtle colour modulation characteristic of late‑Renaissance naturalist drawings.

History & Provenance

Created in 1605, the drawing belongs to Ligozzi’s prolific output of scientific illustrations produced for patrons interested in natural history. Though its early ownership remains undocumented, the work entered a museum collection in the twentieth century, where it has been displayed as an example of the artist’s contribution to the visual documentation of flora and fauna during the Mannerist era.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Jacopo Ligozzi

Jacopo Ligozzi (1547–1627) was an Italian painter, illustrator, designer, and miniaturist. His art can be categorized as late-Renaissance and Mannerist styles.