farfel_n04_018_230

Mattioli's commentary on Dioscorides text was [illegible]
largely at the practical purpose of medicinale
phytognosis and acquired intrinsic value both through
the wealth of its descriptive details of each plant and
through its accurate drawings. Mattioli may
therefore be considered a member of the Vesalian
school of morphological observation. The work made it
possible to identify and compare its plants and herbs with
those mentioned by Dioscorides and also with those found
in nature.
By 1568 more than 30,000 copies of the Italian
text had been sold (dedication leaf *7n)
4 later ed. Czech, German, Latin and Italian published
in Prague (1562) and Venice (1565 and 68) contained a
new set of large sized figures, not dependent on color
as are those of Fuchs, were sometimes painted though.
for all their skillfulness the illust. to Mattioli marks
the beginning of the decline of wood engraving.

Fundamental to the work's success is its conception
and execution as a practical scientific treatise.
It was intended for daily use by physicians
herbalists and others who could find descriptions
and notes on medicinal plants and herbs, Greek and
Latin names and synonyms, and the equivalent in
other languages.