Virum Improbum vel Mures Mordeant 1592

Jacob Hoefnagel's "Virum Improbum vel Mures Mordeant" (1592) is a striking example of 16th-century naturalism and symbolic imagery. This small but intricately detailed watercolor and gouache on vellum depicts a diverse array of flora and fauna. The scene features a rose, a lily, a butterfly, a snail, a mouse, a fly, peapods, and a worm, showcasing Hoefnagel's meticulous attention to detail in portraying the natural world. The Latin text below the image, a verse from Ovid, hints at the artwork's allegorical meaning, likely relating to the fragility of beauty and the fleeting nature of life. Hoefnagel's work, often incorporated into larger, illuminated manuscripts, demonstrates the continued artistic interest in scientific observation and the symbolic representation of nature during this period.