The real-world version of this painting is closer to five feet wide than fifteen, but it wouldn’t have looked as dramatic that way.


National Gallery, London
Roelant Savery, The Paradise (1626)
On loan from Gemäldegalerie, Berlin

Jany: So this artist used to be your Master?

Blake: Not quite. He was the court painter for the Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf II — that was my Master.

According to art historians, he had me model for a lot of the paintings. Usually as a human. Can you spot me in this one?

Jany: Hmm . . .

Aha! Here! A big cat that’s not a lion!

I don’t think the artist painted any lizards in this at all . . .

Kara Lynn: His loss.