De Historia Stirpium - Leonhart Fuchs
The famous herb book by the German physician and botanist Leonhart Fuchs was the standard botanical work in Europe for centuries. Printed in Basel in 1542, it is wonderfully illustrated with over 500 colored woodcuts, which visually present the plants depicted from their roots to their flowers. This fascinating document from the “Father of Botany” brings the exciting world of the beginnings of biology to life.
De Historia Stirpium - Leonhart Fuchs
Leonhard Fuchs (1501–1566) is considered to be the “father of botany”. The 16th-century German physician and botanist attained fame as the author of the standard botanical reference De Historia Stiripium commantarii insignes. Fuchs additionally composed numerous other scientific works and was active in Munich, Ingolstadt, Ansbach, and above all at the Universität Tübingen, where he initiated one of the first botanical gardens.
The Famous Latin Herb Book
Leonhart Fuch’s famous masterpiece was published in Basel’s Officina Insingriniana in 1542: the fascinating herb book with the title De Historia Stiripium commantarii insignes. This comprehensive botanical work contains botanical and medical descriptions of 343 plants both common and exotic, and is richly illustrated with 517 gorgeously colored woodcuts. These captivatingly naturalistic depictions – executed by gifted masters according to the author’s instructions – presents the plants in every detail, from the roots to the leaves and flowers.
The Basis of his Fame
After the publication of De Historia Stiripium commantarii insignes in Latin, Leonhart Fuchs made his botanical treasure chest accessible to the general public in a German edition: one year later the “New Kreüterbuch” was published, thereby laying the foundation for the dissemination of his work. Subsequently, De Historia Stiripium was widely disseminated across Europe – in numerous translations as well. Nonetheless, Leonhart Fuchs is most authentically tangible as a passionate botanist and plant expert in the work’s original Latin edition.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- On the History of Plants by Leonhart Fuchs
Kräuterbuch des Leonhart Fuchs - Size / Format
- 898 pages / 35.0 × 28.5 cm
- Origin
- Switzerland
- Date
- 1542
- Epochs
- Style
- Illustrations
- 517 xylographic illustrations of 343 species
- Artist / School
- Leonhart Fuchs (1501 – 1566)
De Historia Stirpium – Leonhart Fuchs
Vitus Rudolph Speckle
Although Leonhart Fuchs was the mastermind behind this famous botanical work, a collaboration between various artists and artisans was needed in order to transfer the ideas from the mind of Fuchs to the page. First, Albrecht Meyer made realistic botanical drawings free of unnecessary artistic embellishment based upon Fuchs’ work. Second, Heinrich Füllmaurer converted the drawings to woodblock form. Finally, Vitus Rudolph Speckle, pictured here, cut the blocks and actually printed the drawings.
De Historia Stirpium - Leonhart Fuchs
Author Portrait
At the beginning of the work, portraits of all those involved in its creation are presented in masterfully engraved woodcuts that have been lovingly colored. Here we see the author and mastermind of the work, Leonhart Fuchs, holding a flowering plant. His portrait is accompanied by some marginal notes written in the hand of one of the codex’s previous owners.
Fuchs is rosy-cheeked, sports a stylish beard, and gazes casually at the margin. He is dressed in the typical attire of the 16th century: a ruffled shirt and tights, a soft brimmed hat, and an oversized brocade coat lined with fur. Thus presented as an idealized Renaissance scholar, the portrait suggests that Fuchs already anticipated the importance and impact his work would have for botany.
#1 De Historia Stirpium di Leonhart Fuchs
Language: Italian
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#2 De Historia Stirpium di Leonhart Fuchs
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