← Hoefnagel, Joris

This is a painting of birds perched on and around a gnarled tree. The painting features a collection of six birds, each distinct in its coloration and form, situated on a barren landscape where the earth appears rugged and eroded. The birds are distributed across the scene, with some perched on the twisted branches of a leafless tree, while others are stationed on the ground or near a body of water below a cliff. The artwork is rendered with fine detail, capturing the feathers and postures of the birds intricately. Latin text is inscribed at the top of the image.

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

Hoefnagel, Joris · Flemish

c.1575/1590s

Medium
watercolor and gold paint on parchment
Classification
Drawing
Period
1551 to 1600
Image size
4920 × 3859px

Description

This is a painting of birds perched on and around a gnarled tree. The painting features a collection of six birds, each distinct in its coloration and form, situated on a barren landscape where the earth appears rugged and eroded. The birds are distributed across the scene, with some perched on the twisted branches of a leafless tree, while others are stationed on the ground or near a body of water below a cliff. The artwork is rendered with fine detail, capturing the feathers and postures of the birds intricately. Latin text is inscribed at the top of the image.

Rights & Source

Open access image from the National Gallery of Art, released under its open access program. Metadata via the NGA Open Data Program (CC0).

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