Plate 9: A Donkey and a Mule

Joris Hoefnagel

National Gallery of Art

This is a painting of two donkeys standing on a grass patch with trees in an illustrative style. The image shows a larger donkey on the left and a smaller donkey on the right. Above the donkeys, there are Latin phrases written on blue ribbons intertwined with branches. The scene is enclosed within an oval frame. The background is a plain, off-white color, emphasizing the central oval where the donkeys and environmental details are rendered with fine brushwork showcasing texture and depth.