Plate 52: Two Sand Lizards, c. 1575/1580

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series Title

Animalia Qvadrvpedia et Reptilia (Terra)

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

1987.20.6.53

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 brown ink: .Serpente Ciconia pullos / Nutrit, et Inventa per devia rura Lacerta: / Illi eadem sumptis, quaerunt animalia Pennis. (“The stork feeds its young with the snake and with the lizard found in distant country. When they are fledged, they seek out the same animals [on the lizard].)” (trans. Vignau-Wilberg 1994, 73).; right center in brown/black ink: LII.; animals in image numbered .1., in red ink; lower center in blue/black ink: Versicolor coluber, ranas, miserasq[ue] Lacertas / Devorat, In sylvis foera fortior, ore minorem / Dilacerat. (“The colorful snake devours frogs and wretched lizards; in the woods the wild beast, being stronger, tears the smaller beast to shreds.”) (trans. Vignau-Wilberg 1994, 64)
Facing page: upper center in brown ink: Sed cunctas species animantum nemo notavit:/ Atq[ue] sonos ideo dicere quis poterit?; lower center in violet ink: Auxilium meum a Domino: qui fecit / Coelum et TERRAM. ps.120. (“My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalms 120:2) (Latin Vulgate Bible)