Anonymous Italian artist - photo 1
Anonymous Italian artist - photo 2

Anonymous Italian artist

Lot 17
13.07.2022 10:30UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 20 160
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
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ID 794602
Lot 17 | Anonymous Italian artist
Estimate value
£ 2 000 – 3 000
Anonymous Italian artist

Two illustrations of camomile, on a leaf from a Herbal, in Latin, decorated manuscript on paper [Italy, 15th century]

A delicate, beguiling study of camomile on a leaf from a medieval Italian Herbal, with an accompanying description of the medical virtues of the plant.



290 x 193mm. The verso with an illustration of Physalis alkekengi [Chinese lantern] and five lines of text (repaired loss to the lower margin of the leaf, repaired split at upper right, cropped, remnants of supports).



The accompanying text on this leaf from a Herbal – a medieval encyclopaedia of plants – gives the properties of camomile as relaxation and the quieting of the brain; it denotes the second of the two species depicted here as ‘stinking camomile’. A description of the Chinese lantern plant on the verso notes that its seeds can be used to stimulate the production of urine. Our text does not definitely correspond to any known exemplars, but is likely derived from one of the widely-circulated works on the virtues, qualities and uses of medicinal herbs, many of which were translated from Arabic into Latin.





Special notice


This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.
Place of origin:Italy, Europe
Auction house category:Medicine & science
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
13.07.2022 – 13.07.2022
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
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