He Painted Bugs Like Jewels — And Changed Science

When you see a bug crawling around, do you ever stop to look at it? Like, _really_ look at it? Do you notice how the light shines off its back, or how its wings catch the sun? In this video, Nerdwriter and the National Gallery of Art put the work of 16th-century artist Joris Hoefnagel under a magnifying glass. He did look at bugs that closely, and his depictions of insects and other little beasts fused art and science in groundbreaking ways. At a time when bugs were mostly feared or ignored, Hoefnagel's exquisite paintings and drawings invited wonder, and helped change the course of scientific illustration. VISIT THE EXHIBITION: Little Beasts: Art, Wonder, and the Natural World on view at the National Gallery of Art May 18, 2025 - November 2, 2025 SOURCES * Brian W. Ogilvie, “Natural History in the European Renaissance” Little Beasts: Art, Wonder, And The Natural World * Stacey Sell, “‘Through Such Variety, Nature Is Beautiful’: Joris Hoefnagel, The Four Elements, and Natural History” Little Beasts: Art, Wonder, And The Natural World * Brooks Rich, “Survival of the Finest: Animals in Early Modern Intaglio Print Series” Little Beasts: Art, Wonder, And The Natural World * Janice L. Neri, “From insect to icon: Joris Hoefnagel and the 'screened Objects' of the natural world” Ways of Knowing: Ten Interdisciplinary Essays * NGA.gov, “The Marvelous Details of Joris Hoefnagel’s Animal and Insect Studies” * Karel Van Mander, “Joris Hoefnagel” Het Schilder-Boeck * Thea Vignau-Wilberg, “Joris Hoefnagel, The Illuminator” Mira Calligraphiae Monumenta * Thea Vignau-Wilberg. “Flowers for His Mother: An Unknown Cabinet Miniature by Joris Hoefnagel.” Master Drawings, vol. 45 * Marissa Bass, “Patience Grows: The First Roots of Joris Hoefnagel’s Emblematic Art” The Anthropomorphic Lens: Anthropomorphism, Microcosmism and Analogy in Early Modern Thought and Visual Arts * Michèle Seehafer, “Shimmering Virtue: Joris Hoefnagel and the Uses of Shell Gold in the Early Modern Period” Materialized Identities in Early Modern Culture, 1450-1750 MUSIC (via Epidemic Sound) David Celeste, “Coco Begins His Journey” David Celeste, "Shrines” THANKS: Alex Libby Jen Cipriano Brooks Rich Memo Saenz Stacey Sell Rachel Trinkley Biscuit Factory Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History VIDEO BY: Nerdwriter | Evan Puschak CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 00:32 Welcome to Antwerp 01:19 Meet Joris Hoefnagel 02:09 Nature And the European Renaissance 03:03 Hoefnagel's Influences 03:33 The Four Elements 04:54 Highly Detailed Drawings 05:29 Science or Art? 06:27 How The Work Spreads Still haven’t subscribed to our YouTube channels?    National Gallery of Art ►►https://www.youtube.com/NationalGalleryofArtUS   National Gallery of Art Talks ►►https://www.youtube.com/NationalGalleryofArtTalks  For more Nerdwriter videos, visit: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nerdwriter1 ABOUT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART     The National Gallery of Art serves the nation by welcoming all people to explore and experience art, creativity, and our shared humanity.     More National Gallery of Art Content: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nationalgalleryofart Twitter: https://twitter.com/ngadc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ngadc/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ngadc/_created/ E-News: https://mailchi.mp/nga.gov/signup