Historia Naturalis: De Quadrupedibus

Historia Naturalis: De Quadrupedibus – Siloé, arte y bibliofilia – Private Collection

Frankfurt (Germany) or Amsterdam (Netherlands) — 1652

The major work of early modern zoology with fascinating copperplate engravings by the gifted Matthäus Merian: John Johnston's influential encyclopedia on quadrupeds

  1. John Jonston's encyclopedia (1603–1675) was the primary work of zoology and botany in his day

  2. The Polish doctor and Renaissance man wanted to compile the knowledge of the world, and order it

  3. The copperplate engravings in the work include one based on a 1515 woodcut of a rhinoceros by Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528)

Historia Naturalis: De Quadrupedibus

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Description
Historia Naturalis: De Quadrupedibus

Whether dog, ape, or crocodile, all kinds of animals on four legs are assembled in the second volume of the famous Historia Naturalis by John Jonston about quadrupeds. The animals are classified and explained scientifically in the text and are visualized for the beholder with gorgeous, colored illustrations. The Polish doctor and Renaissance man John Jonston wrote an encyclopedic overview of the history of animals in five volumes with the title Historia Naturalis around the mid–17th century. The standard work of 17th century zoology appeared between 1650 and 1653 in the publishing house of Matthäus Merian the Younger in Frankfurt am Main. This “most broadly disseminated zoological handbook” experienced numerous republications and translations into other languages, still offering a magnificent and often curious glimpse into the world of zoology today.

Historia Naturalis: De Quadrupedibus

Whether dog, ape, or crocodile, all kinds of animals on four legs are assembled in the second volume of the famous Historia Naturalis by John Jonston about quadrupeds. The animals are classified and explained scientifically in the text and are visualized for the beholder with gorgeous, colored illustrations. The Polish doctor and Renaissance man John Jonston wrote an encyclopedic overview of the history of animals in five volumes with the title Historia Naturalis around the mid–17th century. The standard work of 17th century zoology appeared between 1650 and 1653 in the publishing house of Matthäus Merian the Younger in Frankfurt am Main. This “most broadly disseminated zoological handbook” experienced numerous republications and translations into other languages, still offering a magnificent and often curious glimpse into the world of zoology today.

The Renaissance Man John Jonston

John Jonston (1603–1675) was the son of Scottish parents, a doctor, and a Renaissance man from Poland. He was famous through his numerous writings and pedagogical purposes concerning such diverse topics as child-rearing, philosophy and theology, history, but also medicine and mineralogy. Jonston’s aim was to convey and pass on the collected knowledge of his time. He pursued this goal among others, including as a tutor and tour guide of young noblemen. He himself acquired his comprehensive knowledge while on un study tours and stays across Europe. John Jonston is still known today – especially to biologists and zoologists – for his magnum opus, the famous five-volume Historia Naturalis Animalium.

All Animals on Four Legs

The second band of the encyclopedic series under the title Historia Naturalis de Quadrupedibus is dedicated to quadrupeds. Johnson subdivided the animals in individual chapters, among others as equines, cloven hoofed animals, house pets, etc. Every possible animal is thoroughly described and illustrated in copperplate engravings in the work. The reader is informed about horses, elephants and camels, cattle, sheep, wild game, dogs and wolves, trained bears, apes, anteaters, rodents, but also reptiles such as crocodiles, chameleons, or tortoises. As a result, the classification does not always follow modern principles, but in this way it gives a magnificent glimpse in the zoological science of the 17th century. A curious anecdote concerns the template of Albrecht Dürer’s famous woodcut of a rhinoceros from the year 1515 used for the illustration of the animal. Nearly 150 years after its creation, the woodcut of the great master of the German Renaissance is still relevant!

Standard Work of Zoology

The Historia Naturalis de Quadrupedibus is only one of five volumes of the encyclopedic zoology of John Jonston. For his incomplete magnum opus, Jonston planned a comprehensive illustrated depiction of the world of animals, plants, and people. The Historia Naturalis Animalium was printed from 1650 to 1653 in the publishing house of Matthäus Merian the Younger in Frankfurt am Main. Merian (1621–1687), who took over the famous atelier of his father Matthäus Merian the Elder, as copperplate engraver was also responsible for the artistic design of the editions. The high-quality illustrations, colorfully illustrated moreover, lend the sophisticated publication its final touches and are surely a reason for the exceptional popularity of the Historia Naturalis across Europe.

Codicology

Size / Format
400 pages / 38.0 × 22.0 cm
Origin
Germany
Date
1652
Language
Illustrations
80 copperplate engravings depicting more than 350 animals
Artist / School

Available facsimile editions:
Historia Naturalis: De Quadrupedibus – Siloé, arte y bibliofilia – Private Collection
Siloé, arte y bibliofilia – Burgos, 2006
Limited Edition: 898 copies
Detail Picture

Historia Naturalis: De Quadrupedibus

Dogs

The genus Canis includes wolves, coyotes, golden jackals and domesticated dogs such as these two fine specimens. Standing in the foreground is a muscular short-haired mastiff-type breed, which has been used for hunting, in war, and as a guard dog in Europe and Asia for 3,000 years. The long-haired dog sitting behind it resembles an Irish Wolfhound, which hunts primarily through sight and speed rather than scent and was first referred to by the Roman Consul Quintus Aurelius Symmachus in AD 391.

Historia Naturalis: De Quadrupedibus – Siloé, arte y bibliofilia – Private Collection
Single Page

Historia Naturalis: De Quadrupedibus

Dürer's Rhinoceros

An Indian rhinoceros arrived in Lisbon to great fanfare on May 20th, 1515. It was the first living example of the species to be seen in Europe since the Roman Empire and was studied and sketched by various scholars and artists. Albrecht Dürer created a famous woodcut of the animal that had become something of a mythical beast in Europe, but which in the context of the Renaissance was treated like a rediscovered piece of antiquity.

Nearly 150 years after it was first executed by Dürer, this woodcut of a rhinoceros was included in the codex by Matthaeus Merian the Younger, the engraver responsible for it, because of both its artistry and its accuracy. Although impossibly strong and powerful, the rhinoceros appears calm, almost serene.

Historia Naturalis: De Quadrupedibus – Siloé, arte y bibliofilia – Private Collection
Facsimile Editions

#1 Historia Naturalis: De Quadrupedibus

Siloé, arte y bibliofilia – Burgos, 2006

Publisher: Siloé, arte y bibliofilia – Burgos, 2006
Limited Edition: 898 copies
Binding: Leather
Commentary: 1 volume
Language: Spanish
1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) 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.
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€€
(3,000€ - 7,000€)
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