Plate 55: A Tawny Owl, an Eagle Owl, and Two other Owls, c. 1575/1580

Not on View

series Title

Animalia Volatilia et Amphibia (Aier)

Medium

watercolor and gouache, with oval border in gold, on vellum

Dimensions

page size (approximate): 14.3 x 18.4 cm (5 5/8 x 7 1/4 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Mrs. Lessing J. Rosenwald

Accession Number

1987.20.8.56

Artists / Makers

Joris Hoefnagel (artist) Flemish, 1542 - 1600

Image Use

This image is in the public domain.
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Inscription

Upper center in red ink: MVLTAE NOCTVAE SVB TEGVLIS LATITANT. (“Many night owls lie hidden under the rooftops.” Gesner, _Historia animalium_ 3:600, 602) (trans. Bass 2019, 198); center right in (gold?): LV.; images of owls in image numbered .1., .2., and .3.; on branch under owl numbered .2. in image, in (gold?): IN NOCTE CO[N]SILIUM (“Counsel in the nighttime.” Erasmus, _Adages_, 2.2.43) (trans. Bass 2019, 199); lower center in black ink: NOCTVA VOLAT. (“The night owl flies.” Erasmus, _Adages_, 1.1.76) (trans. Bass 2019, 198)
Facing page: Upper center in black/blue ink: Noctua ut in tumulis, super utq[ue] cadavera bubo. / Talis apud Sophoclem, nostra puella sedet.(“As the night owl perches on tombs and the eagle owl on corpses, so my girl sits with Sophocles.” Alciato, _Emblemata_, 127 and Gesner, _Historia animalium_ 3:233) (trans. Bass 2019, 198); lower center in black ink: Ignavus bubo, dirum mortalibus omen. (“Eagle owl, a fearful omen to mankind.” Ovid, _Metamorphoses_ 5.551 (trans. Bass 2019, 198)