Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon)

Anselmus Boëtius de Boodt (signed by artist), 1596 - 1610

The later artist who was commissioned by Van Huerne to add settings and backgrounds to many of the drawings here drew an island in a river, namely the Nile (Nilus fluv). With this, he probably wanted to allude to the animal’s name and its natural habitat. The ancient Egyptians considered this ichneumon to be sacred since it is immune to snake poison – hence its nickname ‘pharaoh rat’.

  • Artwork typedrawing
  • Object numberRP-T-BR-2017-1-2-43
  • Dimensionsheight 160 mm x width 297 mm
  • Physical characteristicspenseel in waterverf en dekverf in kleuren, gehoogd met witte dekverf, handschrift in pen in bruin