Bidspirit auction | Johann Joachim Becher (1635–1682) –

Johann Joachim Becher (1635–1682) – Set of 2 Botanical Folio Page with Ribes and Arbutus – Hand-Colored Woodcut (17th Century) - This double-column folio page from a 17th-century botanical text features hand-colored woodcuts of two medicinal plants: Ribes (currant) on the left and Arbutus (strawberry tree) on the right. The page includes German blackletter typography with Latin botanical terms under the heading Phythologia, accompanied by poetic verses, commentary, and references to classical sources such as Dioscorides and Galen. The finely hand-colored illustrations highlight the fruiting branches in naturalistic detail, typical of early modern herbal publications. This specimen reflects the fusion of empirical botanical study with the poetic and philosophical traditions of Renaissance natural history.Johann Joachim Becher (1635–1682) was a German physician, alchemist, and polymath whose contributions to early chemistry, economics, and natural philosophy were influential in the Baroque era. Though best known for his work on phlogiston theory and industrial reform, Becher also published on botanical and pharmacological subjects. His scientific output was marked by a drive to systematize nature through empirical observation and classical scholarship.Artist or Maker: Johann Joachim BecherDimensions: 32 cm × 19 cmMedium: Hand-Colored Woodcut on Laid PaperDate: 17th CenturyCondition Report:This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.