Botanical Illustration of Saint Lawrences Seeds and Plants, 1601, Paper

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"botanical illustration of saint lawrence's seeds and plants by de bry, 1601" : this engraving from theodore de bry's collection, … Read more "botanical illustration of saint lawrence's seeds and plants by de bry, 1601" : this engraving from theodore de bry's collection, produced in 1601, features a botanical study of various seeds and plants native to the island of saint lawrence, also known as madagascar. Each plant is meticulously rendered with latin letters corresponding to a legend that identifies them. This careful study was part of de bry’s extensive work to document and illustrate the flora and fauna encountered by european explorers during their voyages to exotic lands. The illustration captures the diverse plant life from the island, from the bulbous shapes of the roots in the foreground to the towering forms of the trees in the background. The detail in the image reflects the european fascination with new and foreign natural history, a subject that was growing in popularity and significance during the age of exploration. De bry's works served not only as scientific records but also as means to captivate and educate his contemporaries about the wonders of the natural world. Translation of the latin text: "there is a certain tree, its summit dividing into the smallest of branches. From this, the chaonas nuts are collected. B. The house of holland has a frequent abundance of them. They were called by the local language blatterlos, which, even if it lacks leaves, prefers the same. The seed always produces what is similar. C. The fruit is called giant calamus. D. The straws are called sippetes, which have very thin, long stalks and are acidic in taste. E. Sugar cane in the island of st. Maria is remarkable because it can produce sugar without the process of boiling." the engraving is a page from part iv of de bry's "petits voyages," which narrates significant expeditions to the east indies, including those led by jan juygen van linschoten and cornelis de houtman between 1595-97, as well as the journey by jacob van neck and wybrandt van warwijck in 1598-99. These works were not merely artistic endeavors but also ethnographic records, showcasing indigenous peoples, fauna, flora, and the diverse riches of lands like india, madagascar, and the east indies. Though theodore de bry began this ambitious project, it was continued posthumously by his family and later completed by his son-in-law, matthaus merian, in 1644. This particular engraving, rich in detail and drama, offers a window into the perilous and wondrous experiences of early explorers, and the ways in which these moments were captured and communicated to a european audience hungry for knowledge of the wider world. See less