Pedanius Dioscorides collection

Prior to the advent of photography these meticulously detailed drawings and paintings were the best way to understand plant morphology. Botanical illustration is the art of depicting the form, color, and details of plant life. The earliest surviving depiction of plants and herbs can be traced back to sometime between 50 and 70 CE, when an illustrated book titled De Materia Medica was created by Greek botanist Pedanius Dioscorides to help identify plant species for medicinal purposes. Our collection of botanical illustrations are printed on a fine quality ivory paper.