Plate 29: Two Monkeys, an "Arctopithecus"(Sloth?) and Fruit

Joris Hoefnagel

National Gallery of Art

This is a painting of monkeys and various gourds within a circular frame. The painting features three monkeys in a pastoral scene, one sitting on the ground while the other two are on a tree branch. Surrounding the monkeys are large gourds and a butterfly is perched on one of them. The scene includes a variety of textures, from the fur of the monkeys to the rough surface of the gourds and the smooth branch of the tree. The Latin text adorning the top and bottom of the painting gives it a classical, academic feel. The detailed rendering and composition suggest a style reminiscent of a natural history illustration or a Renaissance period work.