Liber de natura rerum - Codex C-67

Liber de natura rerum - Codex C-67

The encyclopedic text Liber de natura rerum is the most significant work by Thomas of Cantimpré (1201–72), who dedicated almost twenty years of his life to writing it between 1225 and 1244. This genre of literature was popular during the Late Middle Ages and the work presents itself as a complete and exhaustive compendium of the previous scientific history, which is intended for use by clergymen. The work draws on various ancient and medieval sources, and

A Life of Contemplation and Edification

Thomas of Cantimpré was a medieval writer, preacher, theologian and Dominican friar from Flanders. Born into a noble family, his father fought alongside Richard the Lionheart (1157–99) in Palestine during the Third Crusade before fathering his son, whom he sent to Liege in 1206 for education at the age of five. In 1217, Thomas entered the Canons Regular of St. Augustine in the Abbey of Cantimpré near Cambrai, where he attained the priesthood and spent the next 15 years of his life. After entering the Domincan Order in Leuven in 1232, he was sent by the Order to Cologne the following year. There he studied theology under Albertus Magnus (ca. 1200–80). After four years in Cologne, he briefly went to Paris before returning to Leuven, where he rose to Magister of philosophy and theology before becoming a sub-prior and lector in 1246. He then seems to have grown tired of academic life and spent most of the last period of his life preaching in Brabant, Germany, Belgium, and France. Thomas was honored with the title of “General Preacher” in recognition of his contributions.

A Medieval Encyclopedia

The text is divided into twenty chapters covering topics such as the human body and soul (separate chapters) various animals, plants, stones, metals, and finishes by discussing cosmography and the four elements. Thomas of Cantimpré’s primary source was the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, who was regarded as authoritative in medieval Europe, but also drew heavily from Pliny the Elder and Gaius Julius Solinus. Other sources include St. Ambrose and contemporaries like Jacques de Vitry and William of Conches, as well as numerous others that are either unnamed or difficult to recognize. Liber de natura rerumenjoyed great popularity as evidenced by the many manuscripts of it that have survived to the present and was often plagiarized during the Renaissance for catalogs of animals, stones, and monsters.

Miniatures from an Imperial Court Painter

The manuscript, which is now stored in the Biblioteca Universitaria de Granada, is generously adorned with 611 magnificent miniatures by Martinus Opifex (ca. 1400–56), who was active at the court of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III (1415–93). It also features the famous medical treatise Tacuinum Sanitatis by Ibn Buṭlān (1001–64), making this one of the most comprehensive manuscripts of the work. This is a true synthesis of the arts combining the “current” state of knowledge with some of the finest illumination of the period.