Eggplant.place

363d

Italian ornithologist and botanist Ulisse Aldrovandi was born #OTD in 1522.

He was the moving force behind Bologna's botanical garden. His most important work is a series of volumes on natural history, collectively known as "Historia Naturalis". These encyclopedic texts covered a wide range of topics, from birds and insects to minerals and plants.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulisse_Aldrovandi

#naturalhistory #scientificillustrators

lisse Aldrovandi (1522 – 1605). Oil-painting on canvas, attributed to Agostino Carracci.

Aldrovandi is shown as an elderly man, likely in his late 70s or 80s, with a weathered yet thoughtful expression. His face bears the signs of age, with deep lines and a slightly furrowed brow, indicative of a lifetime spent in study and contemplation. His eyes, though aged, retain a sharpness and focus, suggesting a mind still actively engaged in intellectual pursuits. His white or gray beard, trimmed and neatly styled, frames his face, emphasizing his scholarly appearance.

Aldrovandi is dressed in formal, academic attire, likely a dark, heavy robe or cloak, befitting his status as a professor and scientist. The garment may have subtle decorative elements, such as a white collar or cuffs, but the overall tone is somber and modest, aligning with his role as a man of knowledge.

In the painting, Aldrovandi is seated or standing in a composed and dignified posture, symbolizing his role as a teacher and observer of the natural world.

ALT

Ornithologiae, hoc est de avibus historiae libri XII. (De avibus), Bologna, 1599.
Ulysse Aldrovandi - Aldrovandi, Ulisse (1599) Ornithologiae [Tome 1]. apud Franciscum de Franciscis.
Ulysse Aldrovandi's cover page of Ornithologiae

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329d

Oops,

Pocket mammoths really existed. I only knew them from Elder Scrolls Online:

https://en.m.uesp.net/wiki/Online:Pocket_Mammoth_(pet)

But according to @wikipedia, they also existed on Crete:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammuthus_creticus

Image from @uesp

#Mammoth #Mastodon #Gaming #Science #Paleontology #NaturalHistory #ElderScrollsOnline

The illustration shows a small pocket mammoth with light-coloured stripes on its flank. The screenshot is from the computer game "The Elder Scrolls Online"

ALT

Edited 329d ago

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76d

Stonechat. Finished wood engraving, first test print, which I'm very pleased with and the photo that the engraving is based on, taken on one of our regular walks on Ilkley Moor.

#birds #NaturalHistory #nature #art #PrintMaking #WoodEngraving