Natural History Atlas of Philip II - Pomar Codex

The Atlas Historiae Naturalis is one of the first colored illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages that was concerned with the lifeworld of animals and plants. The significant scientific work contains over 218 richly detailed illustrations of the most diverse creatures and plants. The manuscript documents the high level of knowledge about biology in the Middle Ages, which had to be acquired by researchers at the time completely without technical aids. King Philip II of Spain personally commissioned the informative text and dedicated it to one of his close confidants, namely Dr. Honorato Pomar. It is for this reason that the natural history atlas is also known by as the Pomar Codex.

An Age of Science

The Atlas Historiae Naturalis originated during the 16th century, during the Renaissance era. There is hardly another epoch during which more scientific breakthroughs occurred than the Renaissance. Not only were technology, mathematics, and physics on the rise during the time when Nicolaus Copernicus and Isaac Newton lived, but the disciplines of medicine and biology also reached new levels during the Renaissance. The Natural History Atlas of Philip II united all of the biological knowledge of that time in a comprehensive and informative codex. Its excellent, natural and realistic miniatures provides laymen and natural-historically interested readers with a thorough insight into their biological surroundings and provides explanations about the modus vivendi of various kinds of animals and plants. The astounding work continued to possess an immeasurable scientific worth centuries after its genesis.

At the Behest of the King

Philip II of Spain inherited the Kingdom of Spain, her American colonies, the Netherlands, the Free-County of Burgundy, the Kingdoms of Sicily and Naples, the Kingdom of Sardinia, and the Duchy of Milan as the oldest and only surviving son of Charles the V and Isabella of Portugal. The indescribably powerful monarch enjoyed an excellent and comprehensive academic education. His love of literature was already noticeable from a young age. His private library compiled over 13,500 outstanding manuscripts by the time of his death, many of which still exist today and some of which are worth a small fortune. The Atlas Historiae Naturalis possessed a particularly personal significance for Philip, its patron. The magnificent manuscript contains the following dedication on its first page of text: “Our King Philip II presented this book to his personal physician Dr. Honorato Pomar of Valencia, professor of medicinal plants at the University of Valencia.” Dr. Pomar belonged to the circle of the King’s closest confidants and attended to him on a nearly daily basis. Philip gifted him the precious manuscript as a symbol of his great esteem, which the biologist relied on in his daily work.

Unbelievably Delightful Illumination

The fantastically designed miniatures of the Atlas Historiae Naturalis lend the manuscript its high historical and scientific worth. A variety of splendid illustrations exhibits the typical characteristics of the painting of the Italian illuminator Jacobo Ligozzi. Ligozzi, who was from Verona, was one of the most significant and talented painters of animals and plants during the Middle Ages. Even when his delightful miniatures do not bear a signature, the pictures can be attributed to Ligozzi with great certainty because of their stylistic similarities. Some illustrations in the atlas show plants and creatures, which could be found exclusively in America. One can assume that it deals with depictions of the flora and fauna of America because the first expeditions under the Spanish flag were taking place there at the time of the manuscript’s creation. It is possible that the manuscript showed discoveries from the famous expedition of Francisco Hernandez, who explored the natural environment of Mexico from 1571 to 1577. The miniatures not only possess high artistic worth, but also carry an incredibly great significance from a historical perspective.