Plate 16: Gray Heron and Purple Heron(?) with a Sunflower

Joris Hoefnagel

National Gallery of Art

The image shows two heron-like birds facing each other beside a large sunflower, with additional flora. The birds are depicted within an oval border, one with blue-grey plumage on the left and one with a blend of blue and reddish tones on the right. Small flowers and green foliage are on the left side, while a coniferous tree with round pinecones is on the right. Latin inscriptions and the number XVI surround the image. It is styled similarly to traditional botanical and zoological illustrations, inspired by artists like Audubon.