Rijksmuseum

Blad met zes kevers

Date

c. 1620 - c. 1662

Medium

paper, gouache (paint)

Institution

Rijksmuseum

Pieter Holsteyn grouped six different species of beetles like precious jewels on the sheet of paper. He beautifully captured the metallic sheen of their ‘armour.’ Such nature studies were earmarked as having been made naer het leven or ad vivum, ‘from life.’ However, that should not be taken too literally in this case. He probably drew dead specimens. After all, insects are impatient models: they do not care to stay still.

The authoritative record is held by Rijksmuseum. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.