Plate 38: Two Small Dogs with a Crown Imperial c. 1575 - 1580

Joris Hoefnagel created this image of two dogs with a crown imperial plant on a small page. Living in the 16th century, Hoefnagel was court artist to the Habsburg emperor Rudolf II, who was a patron of the arts and sciences. The image sits within an oval frame against the backdrop of a building and nature. Here we see how the wealthy of the era had the privilege of indulging in the beauty of nature. The Latin text above and below the image indicates a humanist influence, with the visual world aligning with classical knowledge. The text above the image translates to ‘A wolfish dog is not a dog for a bitch’. The text below translates to, ‘It is not so difficult, when nature is friendly, to reconcile to you a puppy, a trusty guardian: a dog's love is constant through much time’. There is an emotional relationship between humans and animals which is visible through the text, which speaks of love and trust. Hoefnagel here captures the emotional bond between humans and animals and the humanist interest in the natural world.