Basilius Collection (page 2)

Basil (Basilius), Grand Duke of Russia, 1547. Creator: Augustin Hirschvogel
Basil (Basilius), Grand Duke of Russia, 1547

Dress at the Byzantine Court, 800-1000, from Trachten der Voelker, 1864
BAL246802 Dress at the Byzantine Court, 800-1000, from Trachten der Voelker, 1864 (colour litho) by Kretschmer, Albert (1825-91); Private Collection; (add.info)

BLUEBELL AND MORNING GLORY. Common morning glory (Convolvulaceae), Bluebell (Campanulaceae) and Imperial morning glory (Convolvulaceae)

ARTEMISIAE & RESEDA. Lemon-scented southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum), left, bastard reseda (Reseda lutea), center, and tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)

MARIGOLDS, 1613. Multiflorous Aztec marigold, or African marigold, with French marigolds on either side. Engraving for Basilius Beslers " Florilegium, " Nuremberg, 1613

MELOCACTUS, 1613. Melocactus and Rosa Hiericontea. Engraving from Basilius Beslers Hortus Eystettensis, 1613

ALOE BARBADENSIS, 1613. Aloe barbadensis. Engraving from Basilius Beslers Hortus Eystettensis, 1613

HORTUS EYSTETTENSIS, 1613. Engraving from Hortus Eystettensis with botanicals from the garden of Eichstatt in Bavaria, Germany. Engraving by Basilius Besler, 1613

BASILIUS BESLER (1561-1629). German botanist. Engraving from Hortus Eystettensis. Engraving, 1613

The Hermetic Vessel, c1760. Hermetic vessel in the alchemical furnace. The serpent within the vase symbolises the earthy substances of which the Philosophers Stone is made

Ivory relief carving depicting consul Basilius
Roman civilization, 6th century A.D. Ivory relief carving depicting consul Basilius

Peppermint (Mentha cervina); weld (Reseda luteola), a European mignonette yielding yellow dye; and pennyroyal
PENNYROYAL AND MINT, 1613. Peppermint (Mentha cervina); weld (Reseda luteola), a European mignonette yielding yellow dye; and pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), used for medicinal purposes

Mandrake (Solanaceae), left, and buttercup (Rannunculaceae): engraving for Basilius Beslers Florilegium
MANDRAKE AND BUTTERCUP. Mandrake (Solanaceae), left, and buttercup (Rannunculaceae): engraving for Basilius Beslers Florilegium, published in Nuremberg in 1613

IIII: White narcissus with yellow trumpet, I: Double-flowered blue hepatica, V: Grape hyacinth
HEPATICA AND NARCISSUS. IIII: White narcissus with yellow trumpet, I: Double-flowered blue hepatica, V: Grape hyacinth, III: White trumpet narcissus, II: White hepatica

Melon (Cucurbitaceae), orange-colored tomato (Solanaceae) and watermelon (Cucurbitaceae)
TOMATO & WATERMELON 1613. Melon (Cucurbitaceae), orange-colored tomato (Solanaceae) and watermelon (Cucurbitaceae): engraving for Basilius Beslers Florilegium, published in Nuremberg in 1613

Common asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) and asparagus shoots: engraving for Basilius Beslers Florilegium
BOTANY: ASPARAGUS, 1613. Common asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) and asparagus shoots: engraving for Basilius Beslers Florilegium, published in Nuremberg in 1613

(Piper sp. ) In fruit and in flower: engraving for Basilius Beslers Florilegium, published in Nuremberg in 1613
RED PEPPER PLANTS, 1613. (Piper sp.) In fruit and in flower: engraving for Basilius Beslers " Florilegium, " published in Nuremberg in 1613

Italian artichoke head (Cynara scolymus): engraving from Basilius Beslers Florilegium, published in Nuremberg in 1613
ARTICHOKE, 1613. Italian artichoke head (Cynara scolymus): engraving from Basilius Beslers " Florilegium, " published in Nuremberg in 1613

Pomegranate (Punica granatum), center; and plantain weeds (Plantag major)
POMEGRANATE, 1613. Pomegranate (Punica granatum), center; and plantain weeds (Plantag major). Engraving for Basilius Beslers " Florilegium, " printed at Nuremberg in 1613

BOTANY: SEA LAVENDER. Buckhorn (left), sea lavender (center), and small calamint. Engraving from Basilius Beslers Florilegium, published at Nuremberg, Germany, in 1613

FORGET-ME-NOT & ACANTHUS. Wild blue forget-me-not (top left), spiny acanthus (center), and wild pale blue forget-me-not (top right)

SUNFLOWER. Engraving from Basilius Beslers Hortus Eystettensis, 1613
SUNFLOWER. Engraving from Basilius Beslers " Hortus Eystettensis, " 1613

SAINT-JOHN S-WORT, 1613. Saint-John s-wort (Hypericum androsaemum), center; stinking tutsan (Hypericum hircinum), left; and wild Saint-John s-wort, right: engraving for Basilius Beslers Florilegium

MASTERWORT, SOAPWORT. Masterwort (Umbelliferae), bouncing bet or soapwort (Caryophyllaceae) and wild valerian (Valerianaceae)

0047458VIOLETS, 1613. 5 forms of sweet violet (Viola adorata): engraving for Basilius Beslers Florilegium
0047458VIOLETS, 1613. 5 forms of sweet violet (Viola adorata): engraving for Basilius Beslers " Florilegium, " published in Nuremberg in 1613

LILAC AND BOX, 1613. White lilac (Oleaceae), box (Buxaceae) and mauve lilac (Oleaceae). Engraving for Basilius Beslers Florilegium, published in Nuremberg in 1613

CACTUS: OPUNTIA, 1613. Opuntia ficus-indica(?): engraving from Basilius Beslers Hortus Eystettensis (Altdorf, 1613)
CACTUS: OPUNTIA, 1613. Opuntia ficus-indica(?): engraving from Basilius Beslers " Hortus Eystettensis" (Altdorf, 1613)

JASMINE, 1613. IV: wild jasmine (Jasmium fruticans); III: broom tops (Cytisus scoparius); II: creeping dwarf broom (Chamaecytisus supines); and I: dorycnium (Dorycnium hirsutum)

SAGE, 1613. Blue-flowered sage, white-flowered sage and violet sage (all Salva officinalis): engraving for Basilius Beslers " Florilegium, " published at Nuremberg in 1613

TOBACCO RUSTICA, 1613. Yellow-flowered wild tobacco (Nicotiana rustica), left, cranberry in fruit (Vaccinium oxycoccus), center

FOXGLOVE AND HAWKWEED. From left to right: common pink foxglove (digitalis flore rubro), orange hawkweed (compositae) and white foxglove (digitalis flore albo), from Beslers Florilegium, 1613

CYPRESS, 1613. Spanish broom (Spartium junceum) and Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens): engraving for Basilius Beslers " Florilegium, " printed in Nuremberg in 1613

FOXGLOVE AND HERB PARIS. From left to right: yellow foxglove (digitalis flore luteo), herb paris (herba paris) and common pink foxglove (digitalis flore incarnato), from Beslers Florilegium, 1613

MALLOW, 1613. Vervain mallow (Malva alcea), left, and marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis): engraving for Basilius Beslers Florilegium, published at Nuremberg in 1613

CYCLAMEN & LAVENDER, 1613. Ivy-leaved cyclamen (Primulaceae) and French lavender (Labitae). Engraving for Basilius Beslers Florilegium, published at Nuremberg in 1613

NETTLES AND MINT, 1613. Horsemint (pulegium aquaticum spicatum), spearmint (mentha crispa) and roman nettle (urtica romana), from Beslers " Florilegium, " published in Nuremberg in 1613

PEANUTS, 1613. I: Roof houseleek (Sempervium tectorum); II, III, and IV: Sedum; V: earthnut pea (Lathyrus tuberosus); VI: garden pea (Pisum savivum)

BOTANY: TOBACCO PLANT. (Nicotiana tabacum) in flower. Engraving for Basilius Beslers Florilegium, Nuremberg, 1613

POMEGRANATE, 1613. Pomegranate (Punica granatum), wild rock rose (Cistus monospeliensis), and " smoke" tree (Cotinus coggygria)

BOTANY: POTATO PLANT. (Solanum tuberosum) with thyme plants (Thymus sp. ) on either side
BOTANY: POTATO PLANT. (Solanum tuberosum) with thyme plants (Thymus sp.) on either side: engraving for Basilius Beslers Florilegium, published in Nuremberg in 1613

HONEYSUCKLE, 1613. Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus), left; periwinkle (Vinca major), center; honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium), top right; and woodbine (Lonicera periclymenum)

Monkshead flowers. 17th century artwork of flowers from two monkshead (Aconitum sp.) plants. Their roots are used in herbal medicine preparations for their painkilling (analgesic) properties

Castor oil plant. 17th century artwork of a castor oil plant (Ricinus sp.), which is used in herbal medicine as a purgative (to discharge pus)

Peony flowers. 17th century artwork of two peony (Paeonia sp.) flowers (red) and stonecrop flowers (Sedum sp. lower left)

Rose flowers. 17th century artwork of four rose (Rosa sp.) plants and their flowers. A yellow rose (lower right), red rose (upper right), Scotch rose (Rosa spinosissima)

Acanthus flowers. 17th century artwork of flowers of the spine acanthus (Acanthus spinosus) and some forget-me-not flowers (Myosotis scorpioides, upper left & right)

Columbine flowers. 17th century artwork of flowers from three columbine (Aquilegia sp.) plants. These plants are used in herbal medicine as diuretics (to encourage urination)

BYZANTINES / 800-1000
L-R: A Man of Rank, Basilius (886), an Empress, an Emperor and Basilius II (1025)

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"Basilius Besler's Florilegium: A Botanical Masterpiece from 1613" Step back in time to the year 1613, when Basilius Besler unveiled his magnificent Florilegium, a collection of engravings that captured the beauty and diversity of nature. Amongst these remarkable illustrations were depictions of various plants and fruits, each meticulously detailed. In one engraving, we are introduced to the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), showcasing the unique shapes and textures of this versatile plant. Taro or dasheen (Colocasia esculenta) also makes an appearance with its vibrant leaves adding a touch of elegance. And who could forget the pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo), symbolizing autumnal abundance? Moving on to another enchanting illustration, we encounter variegated Spanish iris (iris bulbosa mixta) alongside wild leek (moly latifolium). The contrasting colors and intricate patterns create a visual feast for the eyes. Another variegated Spanish iris (iris bulbosa varrigata) adds further intrigue to this botanical tapestry. Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis) takes center stage in yet another engraving, accompanied by St. Bruno's lily (Paradisea liliastrum) and pink lily-of-the-valley. These delicate flowers exude grace and purity as they dance across the page. Citrus fruits steal our attention next - citron (Citrus medica), Seville orange (Citrus aurantium), and orange itself bring their zesty aromas into our imagination. Their vibrant hues seem almost tangible through Besler's artistry. The poppy flower graces us with its presence in two captivating varieties while tomatoes make their debut as well – Lycopersicon esculentum bursting with juicy goodness.