Historia Naturalis Brasiliae

The Historia Naturalis Brasiliae represents a unique historical, scientific and artistic testimony about the geography of Brazil, which is due to Johan Moritz von Nassau-Siegen during his tenure from 1637 to 1644 as " Governor General " in Dutch Brazil.

He created these conditions by he recruited for his eight -year expedition to Brazil renowned scientists and artists for a comprehensive natural history documentation and inventory of Brazil.

The 1648, edited by Johannes de Laet Latin work " Historia Naturalis Brasiliae " with medical and natural history essays by Willem Piso and Georg Marggraf represents a detailed, richly illustrated description of the history, the state and natural history, and the flora and fauna of Brazil, for the first time and over the centuries has inspired subsequent researchers. The book was the only work with a scientific botany, zoology, anthropology and medicine in Brazil for a long time. Which emanated from the same research under Brazil Johan Moritz von Nassau-Siegen Theatrum rerum naturalium Brasiliae was never printed.

In addition to Piso and Markgraf, the Dutch painter Frans Post and Albert Eckhout as well as the architect and engineer Pieter Post, brother of the painter Frans were instrumental in the inventory.

Output

• Willem Piso and Georg Marggraf: Historia naturalis Brasiliae in qua non tantum et animalia plantae, sed et indigenarum morbi, ingenia et mores describuntur et iconibus supra quingentas illustrantur, Lugdun. Batavorum: Apud Franciscum Hackium; et amstelodami: Apud Lud. Elzevirium 1648 full text