Epipactis Orchid (Helleborine) & Fumaria (Botany)
From Herbarz
Giorgio Liberale, engraved by Wolfgang Meyerpeck
Prague: Georg Melantrich, 1565
After Pietro Andrea Mattioli
Two large woodcuts on a single folio leaf
Recto: Epipactis orchid (helleborine)
Verso: Fumaria
Woodcut to verso hand colored
Description
This impressive folio leaf presents two large botanical woodcuts, depicting Epipactis orchid (helleborine) on the recto and Fumaria on the verso. The sheet originates from the celebrated Prague edition of Pietro Andrea Mattioli’s Herbarz, published in 1565 by Georg Melantrich and recognized as one of the most important Renaissance herbals ever produced.
The illustrations were designed by Giorgio Liberale, an Italian artist from Udine working for the imperial court in Prague, and engraved by Wolfgang Meyerpeck. Liberale was responsible for producing approximately six hundred large woodblocks for this edition, an extraordinary artistic and scientific undertaking. The resulting images are widely regarded as among the finest botanical woodcuts produced in any century, praised for their balance, clarity, and authority.
The delicacy of these woodcuts was such that the blocks wore quickly, making early impressions particularly desirable. The present example preserves the crispness of Meyerpeck’s cutting, with clear articulation of stems, leaves, and root structures. The verso image has been hand colored, likely shortly after publication, enhancing legibility and visual presence while leaving the recto in black and white, a combination that offers insight into period finishing practices.
Mattioli’s Herbarz is one of the scarcest Renaissance herbals, with very few copies recorded in North American institutions. Individual botanical leaves from this edition are increasingly sought after for their rarity, scale, and importance in the history of medicine, botany, and scientific illustration.
Condition
Good overall condition. Light age toning to the upper portion of the leaf, consistent with the period. Please view images carefully.
Bibliographic References
Details
Medium: Woodcuts, verso hand colored
Format: Folio leaf
Date: 1565
Dimensions: 13.46 × 8.78 inches (34.2 × 22.3 cm)
Subjects: Epipactis Orchid, Helleborine, Fumaria, Botany
Status: Available
Epipactis Orchid (Helleborine) & Fumaria (Botany)
From Herbarz
Giorgio Liberale, engraved by Wolfgang Meyerpeck
Prague: Georg Melantrich, 1565
After Pietro Andrea Mattioli
Two large woodcuts on a single folio leaf
Recto: Epipactis orchid (helleborine)
Verso: Fumaria
Woodcut to verso hand colored
Description
This impressive folio leaf presents two large botanical woodcuts, depicting Epipactis orchid (helleborine) on the recto and Fumaria on the verso. The sheet originates from the celebrated Prague edition of Pietro Andrea Mattioli’s Herbarz, published in 1565 by Georg Melantrich and recognized as one of the most important Renaissance herbals ever produced.
The illustrations were designed by Giorgio Liberale, an Italian artist from Udine working for the imperial court in Prague, and engraved by Wolfgang Meyerpeck. Liberale was responsible for producing approximately six hundred large woodblocks for this edition, an extraordinary artistic and scientific undertaking. The resulting images are widely regarded as among the finest botanical woodcuts produced in any century, praised for their balance, clarity, and authority.
The delicacy of these woodcuts was such that the blocks wore quickly, making early impressions particularly desirable. The present example preserves the crispness of Meyerpeck’s cutting, with clear articulation of stems, leaves, and root structures. The verso image has been hand colored, likely shortly after publication, enhancing legibility and visual presence while leaving the recto in black and white, a combination that offers insight into period finishing practices.
Mattioli’s Herbarz is one of the scarcest Renaissance herbals, with very few copies recorded in North American institutions. Individual botanical leaves from this edition are increasingly sought after for their rarity, scale, and importance in the history of medicine, botany, and scientific illustration.
Condition
Good overall condition. Light age toning to the upper portion of the leaf, consistent with the period. Please view images carefully.
Bibliographic References
Details
Medium: Woodcuts, verso hand colored
Format: Folio leaf
Date: 1565
Dimensions: 13.46 × 8.78 inches (34.2 × 22.3 cm)
Subjects: Epipactis Orchid, Helleborine, Fumaria, Botany
Status: Available
Image 1 of 5
Image 2 of 5
Image 3 of 5
Image 4 of 5
Image 5 of 5