Specimen historiae plantarum 1611

Paul de Reneaulme, a doctor, botanist, and Calvinist, made this etching in the early 17th century. As an illustration in a botanical book, this wasn't made for an art gallery; its function was to further scientific knowledge of plants. What sets it apart from earlier herbals is its use of direct observation. In this era, botany was becoming increasingly empirical, with emphasis on careful looking and experience. But there were also religious motivations, with many protestant botanists believing the act of studying nature was a way of understanding God. The image is an important record of the cultural context of its creation. Looking closely at the image you can see that this is more than just a scientific project. The Greek inscriptions reveal Reneaulme’s humanist erudition. He has made a contribution to a humanist culture that values the scientific method as a way of understanding the divine. To truly appreciate this image, we need to look into the history of science, religion, and publishing in the early modern period.