Nunquam efficies ut recte incedant cancri
This engraving is the sixth plate from a series of botanical prints, Archetypa studiaque patris Georgi Hoefnageli, engraved by Jacob Hoefnagel after his father’s watercolours. It belongs to the florilegium genre, which emerged in the 16th century as a collection of botanical prints aimed at plant enthusiasts, artists and lovers of curiosities.
Originally popular in Europe, florilegia gained traction in Britain when artists migrated from the Low Countries. Initially for wealthy collectors, these prints became widely used, serving as patterns for embroidery, leather decoration and wallpaper.
Nunquam efficies ut recte incedant cancri is Latin for ‘You will never get crabs to walk forwards’.
Originally popular in Europe, florilegia gained traction in Britain when artists migrated from the Low Countries. Initially for wealthy collectors, these prints became widely used, serving as patterns for embroidery, leather decoration and wallpaper.
Nunquam efficies ut recte incedant cancri is Latin for ‘You will never get crabs to walk forwards’.
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- 139/2004
- Collection Class
- Prints
- Medium
- woodcut on paper
- Common Name
- Nunquam efficies ut recte incedant cancri
- Simple Name
- Inscription Transcription
- Nuncram efficies vt Recte Incedant Cancri; Zodiaci gemino munitum forcipe signum, / Pugnantem Alcidou mordicus arripui, / Et testudineo, gressu, feror octipes, (?a)quor, Innato, sum foedum luctiferumque malum; 6 / 4
- Period Classification
- Elizabethan (1558-1603)
- Production Town
- Production Date
- 1592
- Production Person Initials
- JacobJoris
- Production Person Surname
- HoefnagelHoefnagel
- Production Year Low
- Production Year High
