12370 Pietro Andrea Mattioli (1501-1577) – Cereal Plant Illustration – Engraving (1561)

"L'ORGE." The image shows the stalk, leaves, and seed head of a barley plant. This engraving is from a commentary on the medical work of Dioscorides, published in Lyon in 1561. The text surrounding the plant details agricultural characteristics and medicinal applications as understood in the sixteenth century.
Pietro Andrea Mattioli was an Italian physician and naturalist who achieved fame for his extensive commentaries on the writings of Dioscorides. His work served as a primary botanical text during the sixteenth century. He contributed significantly to the advancement of medicine and botany by integrating ancient knowledge with contemporary observations. He published several editions of his studies, which were celebrated for their comprehensive illustrations of various plant species.