Album Sheet with an Ostrich, anonymous, 1550 - 1570
pen and brown ink, with watercolour, h 293mm × w 202mm More details
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.
