Mattioli, Pietro Andrea (1500-1577)

Pietro Andrea Mattioli of Siena studied medicine at Padua where he graduated in 1523. He was at the service of the Emperors Ferdinand and Maximillian II. His interests were mainly concentrated in botanic studies and is considered to be one of the most famous naturalists of his time. Mattioli prepared what many authorities now regard as the encyclopedia of Renaissance pharmacology, the “Discorsi di M. Pietro Andrea Matthioli sanese, medico cesareo, et del serenissimo principe Ferdinando arciduca d’Austria & c. nelli Sei libria”. He studied hundreds of plants, examined and described them fully, added many new species, and provided excellent illustrations which were far superior to those of any previous work in the field.

Prints from this publication are Very Rare and feature early hand coloring.