Plate 1: Elephant with Insects, c. 1575/1580

Inscription

upper center in red ink: ELEPHANTVS INDICVS NON CVRAT CVLICES (“The Indian elephant is scarcely troubled by gnats.” Erasmus, _Adages_, 1.10.66) (trans. Bass 2019, 195); center right in (gold?): .I.; elephant in image numbered .1., in red ink.
Facing page: upper center in brown ink: Quam magnifica sunt opera tua Domine? Omnia / In sapientia fecisti, Impleta est terra possessione tua ps.103. (“O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all: the earth is full of your riches.” Psalms 103:24) (Latin Vulgate Bible); middle center in black ink: Tristantur rapto parto laetantur honore / Corda Elephantum studiis obnoxia nostris. / Vsque adeo Ingenium mite est Elephantibus, alter / Fraterno alterius damno ut succurrat amore. (“The delicate hearts of the elephants are saddened by booty plundered and made happy by the honor of our affections.” Natale Conti, _De venatione_, 13v-14r (1581) (trans. Bass 2019, 196) / Omnibus est spatium longum, longissima vitae / Tempora, viginti bis dicunt vinere lustra.(“The life span of the elephants can be as long as two hundred years.”) (trans. Bass 2019, 196); lower center in brown ink: Et Barrus barrit (“And the elephant roars.” Anonymous, _Elegia de Philomela_, lines 53-54) (trans. Bass 2019, 195-96): cervi glocitant et onagri: / Ast taurus mugit: et celer hinnit equis.

Provenance

Emperor Rudolph of Austria; Lessing J. Rosenwald, Alverthorpe, PA; gift to NGA, 1987.

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