Plate 20: A Plover with Four Other Birds c. 1575 - 1580

Joris Hoefnagel's "Plate 20: A Plover with Four Other Birds" is a meticulously detailed watercolor on vellum from his renowned "Natural History" series, created between 1575 and 1580. The artwork showcases Hoefnagel's mastery of botanical and zoological illustration, capturing the delicate features and colors of five different bird species. The composition is presented within an oval frame, highlighting the central plover, while three other birds perch on a branch above, and another rests on the ground below. This exquisite study of avian life exemplifies Hoefnagel's contribution to the development of scientific illustration during the Renaissance.