i6o 



Botanical Illustration 



[CH. 



decorative effect recall the plant designs so often used in 

 the Middle Ages to enrich the borders of illuminated manu- 

 scripts. This is particularly noticeable in the case of the 

 Briony (Text-fig. ^i). The conventional form of tendril 

 here employed is also seen in other early work, such as 

 the roof-painting of a Vine in the Chapel of St Andrew, 



<== — ^^ 



Text-fig. 75. "Capillus Veneris " = Maidenhair Fern [Arnaldus de Villa 

 Nova, Tractatus de virtutibus herbarum, 1499]. 



Canterbury Cathedral, and some "Decorated" stained glass 

 at Wells, both of which are considerably earlier in date 

 than the ' Herbarius Moguntinus.' 



A more interesting series of figures, also illustrating the 

 text of the Latin ' Herbarius,' was published in Italy a little 

 later. The wood-cuts are believed to be mostly derived 

 from German originals. Text-figs. 6, 57, 65, 74, 75 and 76 



