Bilder Pietro Andrea Mattioli (1501–1578) – Botanical Study of Beet and Purslane – Woodcut (16th Century)

Beskrivning

This botanical illustration presents a systematic study of three varieties of beet and the common purslane plant. The upper portion of the page features detailed woodcuts of white beet, black beet, and red beet, each showing the characteristic large leaves and elongated seed stalks. Below these, a separate illustration depicts the common purslane with its thick, succulent leaves and central root system. The accompanying French text provides a medicinal and descriptive commentary on the properties and uses of these plants, categorizing them according to the classical traditions of natural history. This work is a primary leaf from Mattioli's commentary on the medical treatises of Dioscorides, which served as the most influential pharmacological and botanical reference in Europe during the Renaissance.

Pietro Andrea Mattioli was an Italian physician and naturalist who became one of the most celebrated botanists of the sixteenth century. He is best known for his monumental work, Commentarii in sex libros Pedacii Dioscoridis, which not only translated the ancient Greek texts but also expanded upon them with hundreds of new plant descriptions and high-quality illustrations. Mattioli’s efforts to identify and document the flora of Europe and the Near East laid the groundwork for modern systematic botany and transformed the study of herbal medicine. His publications were translated into numerous languages and went through dozens of editions, reflecting his status as a central figure in the scientific revolution of the Renaissance.

Artist or Maker: Pietro Andrea Mattioli.

Dimensions: Approximately 36 cm x 23 cm.

Medium: Woodcut .

Date: (16th Century).

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.