Medieval Herbals: The Illustrative Traditions

Citation

Malcolm Watson, W. (2001), "Medieval Herbals: The Illustrative Traditions", Library Review, Vol. 50 No. 3, pp. 146-159. https://doi.org/10.1108/lr.2001.50.3.146.14

This work examines medieval manuscript herbals from an art history point of view and considers individuals who commissioned, made and used them. It is a monograph in the British Library Studies in Medieval Culture series. The series of illustrated monographs uses manuscript studies for research into medieval culture. Here the tradition of illustration in herbals has been traced by the examination in chronological order of individual manuscripts, an asterisk indicating those (80+) which have been personally examined by the author. The analysis undertaken is supported by extensive use of relevant literature, with all references being cited at the end of each chapter. The author refers to transformation in style of manuscripts from AD512 – 1450AD, their nature, quality and content and states how difficult it is to answer questions about functions of the herbals examined – the many variations which existed are noted. The book attempts to present an overall picture of the evolution and function of the herbal manuscript of the medieval period.

On occasions throughout the book the author openly admits to the incomplete treatment of the subject due to the large number of manuscripts available; consequently, on occasions, discussion of medieval codices is variable in length and depth. There is also an admission to having had to rely on certain secondary sources especially in relation to the Greek and Arabic herbals. Despite these admissions which are inevitable in a work of this nature, the author does an excellent job and brings together recent research on the subject and adds considerably to it, through her own investigations of an international range of herbals. The reader is encouraged to be patient and to persevere – this is essential, since the work is abundantly supplied with a wealth of concentrated up to date information.

Since this book is an outcome and development from a PhD thesis presented to the Courtauld Institute of Art, London University in 1995, it reflects the value of effective research, which has raised more questions on the subject than can be answered at present. This, the author hopes, will stimulate further research on the subject.

The introduction to the book provides a useful, clear introduction to herbals and there follows a detailed study of Greek herbals, the illustrated Arabic herbals, the Latin herbals, the Tractatus de Herbis and the fifteenth century herbals. Finally there is a helpful conclusion. To support the text there are 30 coloured plates, 80 black and white figures, a wide‐ranging and up to date bibliography, an index to manuscripts cited plus a page index of cited manuscripts and an index to the text.

This is undoubtedly a scholarly work, which will be needed and appreciated by a range of different types of user. Apart from art historians, the importance of the book to students of the history of the book, botanical history, medieval history and cultural history should be recognised. At £19.95 the paperback edition is not unreasonably priced in the light of the range, quality and depth of its contents as well as its physical production.