The Herbal Book of Pietro Andrea Mattioli

Plants are researched in the fields of botany and biology, but also play an important role in the sphere of medicine. The Deutsches Historisches Museum has an instructive compendium by the Italian physician Pietro Andrea Mattioli (1501–1578) in its collections. In this work Mattioli, who was the personal physician at the archducal court in Prague, brought together his immense knowledge of the preparation and application of medicines based on naturally occurring “herbs” and plants. In this last contribution to the series #Umweltsammeln, Dr Stephanie Neuner, head of the department of the Permanent Exhibition, offers a look at this fascinating field of knowledge that evolved in the Early Modern Age.