Plate 46: Bats, Quail, and Oystercatcher(?) by the Water

Joris Hoefnagel

National Gallery of Art

This is a painting of various animals, including birds and bats, in a natural setting. The painting showcases a collection of fauna within an oval frame. In the foreground, there is a black and white bird with a red bill standing on grass-covered land, alongside two smaller brown birds. Two bats with wings spread open hover above them. To the right, a bird is perched on rocky terrain under a tree branch with leaves and purple flowers. In the background, there is a calm expanse of water meeting the horizon. The image is rendered with precision and detail reminiscent of naturalist illustrations by artists like Albrecht Dürer.