Agnus Castus 1485

Johannes de Cuba's "Agnus Castus" (1485) is a detailed botanical illustration depicting the chaste tree, also known as vitex. The artist, who was active in the 15th century, used watercolor and ink on parchment to create this miniature. This work highlights the importance of natural history and medicinal plants in the Renaissance, featuring a precise rendering of the plant's structure and the Latin and Arabic names written below. Now housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, this piece is a fine example of meticulous botanical illustration and a testament to the scientific inquiry that marked the period.