Lot 82: Mattioli P.A. - Renaissance Botany Engraving. Bees, Honey. Printed in 1565

The engraving process which was used is called xylography, taken from the Greek - wood and writing. It is the oldest technique of artistic engraving, consisting of the cutting into a flat board of wood. The technique first appeared in Europe in the 14th century but became an established technique in the 15th century. It was already adopted by the Chinese in old times. The first typographic book including xylographies was printed in Bamberga, Germany in 1461. The first appearance of xylographic technique signifies the ""Old Period"" also called the period of the ""thread wood"" because the craftsman used to carve the wood with little knives, pointers and gouges on boards previously cut lengthwise. Pietro Andrea Mattioli (1500-1577) studied medicine at Padua where he graduated in 1523. He was at the service of the Emperors Ferdinand and Maximillian II. His interests were mainly concentrated in Botanic studies and gathered into a tractatus which was translated into many different languages. He is considered to be one of the most famous naturalists of his time. He prepared what many authorities now regard as the encyclopedia of Renaissance pharmacology. Mattioli studied hundreds of plants, examined and described them fully, added many new species, and provided excellent illustrations which were far superior to those of any previous work in the field. - Heirs of Hippocrates -

~14 x 10 inches

Original hand coloured xylography (woodcut)

1565

VG/Excellent. Due to the age of the artwork, some imperfections can be expected. Please view the detailed photo(s) below carefully.

I discorsi di M. Pietro Andrea Matthioli

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