Joris Hoefnagel or Georg Hoefnagel (1542 – 1601) was a Flemish painter, printmaker, miniaturist, draftsman and merchant.
He is noted for his illustrations of natural history subjects, topographical views, illuminations and mythological works.
Hoefnagel was one of the last manuscript illuminators and made a major contribution to the development of topographical drawing.
His manuscript illuminations and ornamental designs played an important role in the emergence of floral still-life painting as an independent genre in northern Europe at the end of the 16th century.
Working before the invention of the microscope and long before etymology was an established field of study, Hoefnagel produced images that are much more than the sum of his empirical observations.
He created his manuscripts not for a wide scientific public but instead for himself and his small circle of friends.
The almost scientific naturalism of his botanical and animal drawings served as a model for a later generation of Netherlandish artists.
Through these nature studies Hoefnagel also contributed to the development of natural history and he was thus a founder of proto-scientific inquiry.
More of Joris Hoefnagel’s work can be found at https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.2569.html.
Humoring the Goddess 
His illustrations are so unique and beautiful. It looks so interesting to me.
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I always love paintings, but these illustrations and the finess and fineness in his work is amazing.
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Indeed
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Amazing, and historically fascinating, Claudia …
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I am with you, my friend. I am so happy we can share these amazing arts!
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So incredible, I hardly know what to say. Amazing.
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There are soooo many fantastic illustrations from Joris — I will definitely overflow the Gallery side when this comes around!
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Every once in a while an artist sweeps us away with their dreams and their abilities. I am so happy Joris was able to do this with you.
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It is stunning work ! I just don’t understand how they could create this kind of art so long ago. How did they find the colors, the pensils, the paper or canvas ??? Do you know ?
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What wonderful questions! Alas I am not a painter in the least bit. My guess is that the pigments were different hundreds of years ago, along with the bases with which they were mixed. The paper I imagine was parchment, a surface that’s been around for a long long time. I can’t believe the steadiness of the hand, the complete perfection of the handwriting, the details of the characters. Not to mention what a steady hand you’d have to have to not make a mistake. Thank you for bringing depth to this beautiful art work. I feel like I get high every time I deep think these things!
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Each piece is like its own wee gallery!
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They really are, aren’t they? Great creative observation!
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