Ostrich (Struthio camelus)

Unknown artist

The Historia Naturalis aimed to give a reliable ‘scientific’ image for each subject. Yet some illustrations have a lively, humorous air that sets them apart from earlier zoological models. This comical ostrich, with its twisted neck and perplexed expression, has been tentatively attributed to fellow court artist Joris Hoefnagel, who painted the same motif in the background of two other watercolours once in Rudolph’s collection.