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Page 17 · DO #1810 · 142_Payne_Schreiber_Vol.1_r
- Collection
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Payne, Joseph Frank (1840–1910 and Schreiber) manuscript of speech "On the 'Herbarius' and 'Hortus Sanitatis'" (Payne) and "The Herbals of the XVth and XVIth Centuries"
- Item/Folder
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Manuscript, 1901, 21 January 1901
- Digital Object
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DO #1810,
page 17
- Collection-level dates
- 21 January 1901
Page transcription
The figures of plants in "Herbarius" have
certain notable peculiarities. Many of them
show the same stiff drawing and artificial
symmetry which we have observed in the figures of
Apuleius. Even those which have not this character,
seem rather like diagrams than drawings from
nature. That is, they are rather representations
of the artist's conception of the plant, derived
from previous knowledge, than his direct impression
of the object he was drawing. The essential
forms of flowers and leaves are generally indicated
in such a way that they can be recognized,
but there is hardly any attempt to maintain the
proportions of the parts. The flowers are
generally greatly exaggerated in size, and the
roots, where shown, are conventional in form.
In fact, we derive the same impression of a traditional and borrowed art, copied by one artist
from another, that we get from the old classical
figures of plants. This is the more remarkable
when we know what vastly superior pictures of
flowers and herbs are to be found in a number of
mediaeval MSS. In most copies the figures are
rudely coloured.
It seems to me, therefore, quite possible
that the figures, as well as the text, may have
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