Ancient wisdom about medicinal plants and their practical effects: more than 500 realistic illustrations of plants, animals, and people in a unique compendium
Fascination of Medical Plants
France — Second half of the 15th century

Fascination of Medical Plants
France — Second half of the 15th century
This French translation of Matthaeus Platearius' *De Simplicibus medicinis* contains 500+ depictions of plants, animals, and people
The text is accompanied by gilded initials and gorgeous depictions of the remedies
The masterfully illuminated contents are arranged alphabetically, also making the codex extremely practical
Fascination of Medical Plants
- Herbolaire Estense
- Grant Herbier
Short Description
One of the most famous texts concerning medicine and botany of the Middle Ages in a precious luxury edition: De simplicibus medicinis by Matthaeus Platearius. This work by the famous physician from the Salerno school listed 500 plants, herbs, and other remedies with instructions for their production, application, and effect. In his precious manuscript, originating ca. 1500 in France, the French translation of the text is accompanied by gorgeous illustrations, depictions of the remedies presented. Handsome gilded initials additionally embellish this edition and make its standing as a gem of illumination clear!
Herbolaire
One of the most famous texts concerning medicine and botany of the Middle Ages in a precious luxury edition: De simplicibus medicinis by Matthaeus Platearius. This work by the famous physician from the Salerno school listed 500 plants, herbs, and other remedies with instructions for their production, application, and effect. In his precious manuscript, originating ca. 1500 in France, the French translation of the text is accompanied by gorgeous illustrations, depictions of the remedies are also presented. Handsome gilded initials additionally embellish this edition and make its standing as a gem of illumination clear!
The French Translation of a Medieval Standard Work
Two herbaria from the 15th century are stored in the Biblioteca Estense Universitaria in Modena. One of them is the famous Herbolaire, also known as the Grant Herbier. This wonderful manuscript is a comprehensive illustrated edition of the medical-botanical text of De simplicibus medicinis by Platerius. This scientific codex makes up the foundation of a French translation with the title Livre des simples medicinis, which originates from France in the second half of the 15th century.
A Physician
Matthaeus Platearius was a famous physician from the Salerno school. Emulating a Dioscorides, he composed a botanical medical textbook that became one of the most famous medical books of the Middle Ages: De simplicibus medicinis (Of Simple Remedies). There are 500 efficacious plants and remedies in it with comprehensive information about their production, application, effect, and other themes and is arranged alphabetically for a better overview.
The Marvelous Illustrations
This particularly impressive edition of the famous text was surely the commission of a high-ranking personality. Each of the 340 pages is gorgeously illustrated, sometimes even with multiple depictions. The plants and remedies represented were realistically illustrated with detailed depictions of roots, leaves, fruits, and flowers. Additionally, animals, minerals, and figurative scenes of rural work, which depict the mining of sulfur or the collecting of aloe branches, can be found. Precious small Fleuronné initials, sometimes even accentuated with gold leaf, round out the impressive work!
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Herbolaire Estense
Grant Herbier - Size / Format
- 340 pages / 28.0 x 20.0 cm
- Origin
- France
- Date
- Second half of the 15th century
- Epochs
- Style
- Language
- Illustrations
- One or more illustrations of plants, animals and humans on nearly every page
- Artist / School
- Author: Platearius
- Previous Owners
- Honoré d’Urfé
Jehan Duboys
1 available facsimile edition(s) of „Fascination of Medical Plants“
Faszination Heilpflanzen
- Publisher
- Imago – Castel Guelfo, 2006
- Limited Edition
- 299 copies
- Binding
- Brown leather with heavy bronze plate
- Commentary
-
1 volume
Languages: German - More Information
- Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
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