Feathered Cone Shell

Balthasar van der Ast

c. 1620-40

Brown ink, transparent and opaque watercolor, and white opaque watercolor on off-white antique laid paper, mounted; framing line in brown ink

Fogg Museum

A detailed watercolor and ink drawing of a single cone shell with brown and white markings. The shell is positioned on a light background with decorative script above and a signature below. The Maida and George Abrams Collection, Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Promised Gift