In the 1590s, Joris Hoefnagel (1542 – 1600) illustrated Georg Bocskay’s (died 1575) manuscript of calligraphy whilst working as court artist to Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II.

Hoefnagel, a self-taught artist from the Netherlands, added illuminations to Bocskay’s vast selection of contemporary and historical scripts, completed some three decades earlier (1561-62) when the Hungarian was secretary to Rodolf II’s grandfather, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I.

The result is the Mira calligraphiae monumenta (The Model Book of Calligraphy) (ca. 1591), a lush collection of fine art and graphics.

Shop: Fine-art prints of Joris Hoefnagel’s gorgeous art can be ordered in our shop – here.

Via: Getty