Gesner, Conrad (1516-1565)

Conrad Gesner, 1516-1564. Conrad Gesner, 1516-1564.

Conrad Gesner (1516-1565) was a Swiss physician and naturalist who published a five volume natural history book called Historiae Animalium (Zurich, 1551-1558). The series includes illustrations of birds, fish and mammals, and became a popular source of inspiration for embroidery designs in Europe in the sixteenth century and later.

It may be added as a footnote that he claimed to have been the first to draw attention to the tulip, stating that he saw the flower in a garden in Augsburg, in 1559. The bulbs had been sent to Augsburg from Constantinople.

See also: Pierre Belon and Icones Animalium.

Wikipedia

Digital source of illustration (retrieved 18 June 2016).

GVE

Last modified on Tuesday, 30 August 2016 12:07