The new herbal: Plantae Selectae
The new herbal: Plantae Selectae
A stunning original specimen of the most beautiful book of exotic flowers of the 18th century, preserved in the Bibliotheca Antiqua of the Aboca Museum.
Plantae Selectae quarum imagines ad exemplaria naturalia Londini in Hortis Curiosorum nutrita manu artificiosa doctaque pinxit Giorgius Dionysius Ehret...
This masterpiece of 18th century botanical art is the result of the extraordinary collaboration of three personalities who mark the science and art of that period: the doctor and naturalist, Christopher Jacob Trew, the botanical painter Georg Dionisius Ehret and the master engraver Johann Jacob Haid.
The work is composed of 100 hand-coloured engraved plates. Published between 1750 and 1773, it is accompanied by a volume of text that describes the exquisite images. The specimen preserved in the Bibliotheca Antiqua of the Aboca Museum is in perfect condition, with elegant captions heightened in gold.
The survey of plants, in full-scale, is dedicated above all to the exotic varieties, on account of their botanical interest (pineapple, papaya, musa, cereus and magnolia) and their rarity on European soil. Other plants are presented as a testimony to their medicinal virtues in accordance with the popular tradition, in particular, the Lilium.
Linnaeus stated that the Plantae selectae were to be considered among "the miracles of contemporary natural science".
SFOGLIA LE TAVOLE PIÙ SIGNIFICATIVE
