Rijksmuseum

Album Sheet with an Ostrich

Date

1550 - 1570

Medium

paper, ink

Culture

Low Countries

Institution

Rijksmuseum

In the 16th century, artists – who had never before seen a live ostrich – sometimes made the mistake of depicting the creature flying in the sky. This artist drew the flightless bird correctly, its feet firmly planted on the ground. Details such as the bird’s finely painted downy feathers and bare goose flesh on its legs are particularly faithfully rendered.

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