Plate 23: Hummingbird Hawk Moth, Butterflies, and Other Insects around a Snowberry Sprig

Joris Hoefnagel

National Gallery of Art

The image features five detailed depictions of various insects placed within an oval frame that centers around a sprig with white berries and green leaves. At the lower center is a large moth or butterfly with gray and brown wings. To its left, a smaller brown butterfly rests with its wings closed, while the bottom left showcases another small butterfly with speckled brown wings. Near the top right, another butterfly or moth is positioned with open wings, and in the bottom right, an insect with transparent wings and a dark body is illustrated. The colors in the image are primarily earthy browns, soft grays, and muted greens, with subtle touches of pink on the berries adding a hint of brightness. The position of the subjects in the illustration is deliberate, with each insect numbered and spaced around the central branch, creating a harmonious circular composition.