Commissioned by the Marquis of Mantua: Petrus Candidus' lexical masterpiece on the natural history of animals with almost 500 realistic animal depictions
The Animal Book of Pier Candido
Italy — Written ca. 1460; Illuminated ca. 1550

The Animal Book of Pier Candido
Italy — Written ca. 1460; Illuminated ca. 1550
The Latin text by the Humanist Pier Candido (ca. 1399–1477) describes natural history and the lives of animals
Ca. 1550 a total of 496 colored, realistic animal pictures, some of which are decorated with gold and silver elements, were added to the text
Ludovico Gonzaga (1412–78), Marquis of Mantua and animal lover, commissioned the lexicon

Book of Simple Medicines
Frogs
Frogs are an important part of the ecosystem and possess cultural importance across the world. In folklore, frogs are used as metaphors for those possessing hidden talents in spite of their appearance. Medieval theologians distinguished between land and water frogs, regarding the former as righteous while the latter were sinful. A variety of frogs are presented here in artful and natural detail alongside a succulent grasshopper, a fine feast for a frog.
The Animal Book of Pier Candido
- Tierbuch des Petrus Candidus
- De omnium animalium natura
- De animantium naturis
- Bestiary of Petrus Candidus: Book of Animals
Short Description
The The Animal Book of Pier Candido arose in Italy ca. 1460. It describes natural history and the life of animals in the Renaissance. The Latin text was appended ca. 1550 with a total of 496 colored images of animals, some of which are adorned with gold and silver elements.
The Animal Book of Pier Candido
There is a highly valuable collection of zoological manuscripts in the Apostolic Library of the Vatican. Descriptions and depictions of animals of all kinds, as they were seen in nature by the respective book masters, are found in these books. Our modern biological knowledge naturally did not yet play any role at that time. One of the most famous works of this kind is The Animal Book of Pier Candido. It is an astounding encyclopedia, which was able to combine contemporary natural studies with medieval myths and legends. The work was created ca. 1460 and was endowed with a total of 496 colored and gold-adorned illustrations around 100 years later.
Pier Candido the Humanist
The Italian Pier Candido Decembrio, called Petrus Candidus in Latin, was born ca. 1399 and died in 1477 in Milan. He was one of the most famous humanists of his time and was an influential politician in Italy. He worked for a long time at the court of the Milanese Duke Filippo Maria Visconti, for whom he wrote a biography. Candido produced numerous writings and translations. On his tombstone, a total of 127 titles for which he was responsible are recorded. Probably his most famous work is the “bestiary” his Animal Book.
The Animal Life of the Renaissance
Ludovico Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, commissioned the lexicon. The Marquis was famous as a great lover of animals. Candido composed a work that contained all of the natural scientific information which was known in 1460. He allowed for the influence of mythological stories and in doing so created an informative and exciting book, which was illuminated with colorful images ca. 1550. The miniatures show realistic animal figures in eight different colors. Many of the miniatures were additionally embellished with decorative elements of gold and silver. The book margins were set in 23 carat gold. The natural history of the Renaissance was bound here in one of the Vatican’s most splendid codices.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Tierbuch des Petrus Candidus
De omnium animalium natura
De animantium naturis
Bestiary of Petrus Candidus: Book of Animals - Size / Format
- 472 pages / 27.0 x 20.0 cm
- Origin
- Italy
- Date
- Written ca. 1460; Illuminated ca. 1550
- Epochs
- Style
- Language
- Illustrations
- 469 animal illustrations
- Artist / School
- Pier Candido Decembrio (1399–1477)

The Animal Book of Pier Candido
On Horses
The horse was an animal of tremendous importance for both war and peace during the Middle Ages, especially for a great nobleman like the Milanese Duke Filippo Maria Visconti, who commissioned this work. This bas-de-page miniature is a fine specimen of Italian Renaissance art and displays the skill of the great master Pietro Candido.
On a bright field of gold, we see ten horses running, bucking, and playing with one another. Each is colored individually – some are solid shades of brown or gray, others are mottled, all have flowing manes and tails as well as friendly facial expressions. They are presented in a very naturalistic manner with close attention paid to producing realistic proportions, musculature, shading, and shadows.
2 available facsimile edition(s) of „The Animal Book of Pier Candido“
Tierbuch des Petrus Candidus (Leather edition)
- Publisher
- Belser Verlag – Zurich, 1984
- Limited Edition
- 2400 copies
- Binding
- Red leather
- Commentary
-
1 volume (216 pages) by Cynthia M. Pyle
- 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.
Tierbuch des Petrus Candidus (Linen edition)
- Publisher
- Belser Verlag – Zurich, 1984
- Binding
- Green linen
- Commentary
-
1 volume (216 pages) by Cynthia M. Pyle
- 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.
Matching Works
Codice Stivini - Inventory of the possessions of Isabella d'Este Gonzaga
From Michelangelo to Correggio: one of the richest collections in Europe by one of the greatest patrons of the Renaissance
Experience MoreHistoria Naturalis: De Exanguibus Acuaticis et Serpentibus
An encyclopedia with fascinating copperplate engravings by Matthäus Merian: Johnston's main work of the early modern period on snakes and reptiles
Experience MoreMatching Background Articles
Renaissance
What does the word “Renaissance” bring to mind for you? Art, science, and culture of course! It was a "rebirth" and...Experience more15th Century
Come and explore an age of stark contrasts as Europe comes back from the brink: calamities like the Fall of...Experience more
- Treatises / Secular Books
- Apocalypses / Beatus
- Astronomy / Astrology
- Bestiaries
- Bibles / Gospels
- Chronicles / History / Law
- Geography / Maps
- Saints' Lives
- Islam / Oriental
- Judaism / Hebrew
- Single Leaf Collections
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Literature / Poetry
- Liturgical Manuscripts
- Medicine / Botany / Alchemy
- Music
- Mythology / Prophecies
- Psalters
- Other Religious Books
- Games / Hunting
- Private Devotion Books
- Other Genres
- Aboca Museum
- Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA)
- Aldo Ausilio Editore - Bottega d’Erasmo
- Alecto Historical Editions
- Ars Magna
- ArtCodex
- AyN Ediciones
- Bärenreiter-Verlag
- Belser Verlag
- Belser Verlag / WK Wertkontor
- Bernardinum Wydawnictwo
- BiblioGemma
- Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (Vaticanstadt, Vaticanstadt)
- Bibliotheca Palatina Faksimile Verlag
- Bibliotheca Rara
- CAPSA, Ars Scriptoria
- Circulo Cientifico
- Club Bibliófilo Versol
- CM Editores
- Collezione Apocrifa Da Vinci
- Comissão Nacional para as Comemorações dos Descobrimentos Portugueses
- Coron Verlag
- De Agostini/UTET
- DIAMM
- E. Schreiber Graphische Kunstanstalten
- Ediciones Boreal
- Ediciones Grial
- Edilan
- Editalia
- Edition Leipzig
- Edition Libri Illustri
- Editiones Reales Sitios S. L.
- Editions Medicina Rara
- Editorial Mintzoa
- Egeria, S.L.
- Extraordinary Editions
- Facsimile Editions Ltd.
- Facsimilia Art & Edition Ebert KG
- Faksimile Verlag
- Franco Cosimo Panini Editore
- Fundación Hullera Vasco-Leonesa
- Giunti Editore
- Graffiti
- Grafica European Center of Fine Arts
- Helikon
- Herder Verlag
- Hes & De Graaf Publishers
- Hugo Schmidt Verlag
- Idion Verlag
- Il Bulino, edizioni d'arte
- Imago
- Insel Verlag
- Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana - Treccani
- Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato
- Kaydeda Ediciones
- La Meta Editore
- Leo S. Olschki
- Libreria Musicale Italiana
- Lumen Artis
- M. Moleiro Editor
- Manuscriptum
- Millennium Liber
- Nova Charta
- Orbis Mediaevalis
- Orbis Pictus
- Österreichische Staatsdruckerei
- Patrimonio Ediciones
- PIAF
- Popyläen Verlag
- Prestel Verlag
- Priuli & Verlucca, editori
- Pro Sport Verlag
- Pytheas Books
- Quaternio Verlag Luzern
- Reales Sitios
- Reichert Verlag
- Roberto Vattori Editore
- Salerno Editrice
- Schöck ArtPrint Kft.
- Scrinium
- Scripta Maneant
- Scriptorium
- Siloé, arte y bibliofilia
- Styria Verlag
- Tempus Libri
- Testimonio Compañía Editorial
- The Clear Vue Publishing Partnership Limited
- The Facsimile Codex
- The Folio Society
- Tip.Le.Co
- TouchArt
- Trident Editore
- Vallecchi
- Van Wijnen
- Vicent Garcia Editores
- Wiener Mechitharisten-Congregation (Wien, Österreich)
- Yushodo