The Plate Room
31,861 woodcuts, engravings and hand-coloured plates of living things, cut from the pages of herbals, bestiaries and natural histories scanned by the world's libraries and gathered in the Source Library. Every plate links to the page it came from. For one herbal read cover to cover, visit the Herball Room.
A small woodcut illustration depicting two figures harvesting or tending to a plant, identified in the text as Silphium.
1549 · Notable Commentaries on the History of Plants
Botanical woodcut of Dipsacus albus (White Teasel)
1549 · Notable Commentaries on the History of Plants
Botanical woodcut of Pulegium (Pennyroyal) showing roots, stems, leaves, and flowers.
1549 · Notable Commentaries on the History of Plants
A woodcut emblem depicting a rampant lion surrounded by a swarm of bees, holding a banner with the Latin motto 'DE FORTI DULCEDO'.
1549 · Primum volumen[-volumen XVII] tractatuum ex variis iuris interpretibus collectorum, Index and Vol. 17
An emblem featuring a rampant lion surrounded by a swarm of bees, with a banner bearing the motto 'DE FORTI DVLCEDO'.
1549 · Primum volumen[-volumen XVII] tractatuum ex variis iuris interpretibus collectorum, Vols. 13-14
A rectangular woodcut emblem depicting a rampant lion surrounded by a swarm of bees. The lion holds a banner that curls around its body with the Latin motto: DE FORTI DVLCEDO.
1549 · Primum volumen[-volumen XVII] tractatuum ex variis iuris interpretibus collectorum, Vols. 3-4
A woodcut emblem featuring a rampant lion surrounded by a swarm of bees, holding a banner with the motto 'DE FORTI DVLCEDO'.
1549 · Primum volumen[-volumen XVII] tractatuum ex variis iuris interpretibus collectorum, Vols. 3-4
An emblem depicting a rampant lion surrounded by a swarm of bees, with the lion holding a honeycomb. A ribbon scroll above the lion contains the motto: DE FORTI DVLCEDO.
1549 · Primum volumen[-volumen XVII] tractatuum ex variis iuris interpretibus collectorum, Vol. 5
A woodcut emblem featuring a rampant lion surrounded by a swarm of bees or flies. The lion is entwined with a scroll bearing the Latin motto 'DE FORTI DVLCEDO'.
1549 · Primum volumen[-volumen XVII] tractatuum ex variis iuris interpretibus collectorum, Vols. 8-10
A woodcut illustration depicting a crane flying high above a coastal landscape with a city and mountains.
1551 · The Hieroglyphics
Woodcut illustration of a seated lion with a prominent mane, facing the viewer.
1551 · The Hieroglyphics
Woodcut illustration of a lion in a landscape.
1551 · The Hieroglyphics
Woodcut illustration of a Mandrake (Mandragoras) plant, showing its characteristic anthropomorphic root and broad leaves.
1552 · De medicinali materia libri sex
Woodcut of a beaver (Castor fiber) showing its anatomical features including webbed feet and a scaly tail.
1554 · Books on Marine Fishes
Detailed woodcut of a ray (Raia oculata), showing dorsal view with prominent ocelli.
1554 · Books on Marine Fishes
Detailed woodcut of a thornback ray (Raia Clauata) showing dorsal spines and tail anatomy.
1554 · Books on Marine Fishes
Woodcut illustration of a ray fish (Raia asperrima)
1554 · Books on Marine Fishes
Woodcut depicting two geese in a landscape with a building and a circular astronomical or seasonal diagram in the sky.
1555 · History of the Northern Peoples
Woodcut of a stag holding a snake in its mouth, representing the triumph over vice.
1556 · Valeriano: Hieroglyphica (1575)
A woodcut depicting a hunter on horseback dropping a tiger cub to distract a pursuing tigress.
1556 · Valeriano: Hieroglyphica (1575)
Woodcut of a Basilisk, depicted as an upright serpent with a coiled tail.
1556 · Valeriano: Hieroglyphica (1575)
Emblematic woodcut of a stork killing a serpent, representing the triumph of virtue over vice.
1556 · Valeriano: Hieroglyphica (1575)
Anatomical woodcut of a fish stomach (stomachus piscis) with multiple hand-like appendages.
1557 · De re metallica, hoc est, de origine, varietate, & natura corporum metallicorum, lapidum, gemmarum, atque aliarum, quae ex fodinis, eruuntur, rerum, ad medicinae usum deservientium, libri III
Two botanical woodcuts of mandrake plants, labeled Mandragora Mas and Mandragora Foemina, showing roots, leaves, and fruit.
1560 · Commentaries on the Six Books of Dioscorides
Woodcut depicting a group of men attacking a rabid dog.
1560 · Commentaries on the Six Books of Dioscorides
Woodcut of two stags with large antlers
1560 · Commentaries on the Six Books of Dioscorides
Woodcut of an elephant with a rider and a standing figure holding a club.
1560 · Commentaries on the Six Books of Dioscorides
Botanical woodcut of a maple tree with a monkey in its branches and rabbits at its base.
1561 · History of Plants in Four Books
Woodcut illustration of a pear tree with a fox at its base, illustrating a botanical text.
1561 · History of Plants in Four Books
Botanical woodcut of a fig tree with a small figure of a man leaning on a staff.
1561 · History of Plants in Four Books
Four botanical woodcuts arranged in a 2x2 grid, depicting Verbascum sylvestre, Verbascum lychnitis, Primula veris, and Primula veris altera.
1563 · Commentaries on the Six Books of Dioscorides on Medical Matter
Woodcut illustration of swallows in a landscape.
1565 · Commentaries on the Six Books of Pedanius Dioscorides on Medical Matter
Woodcut illustration of four birds, likely larks, in a landscape with a tree stump.
1565 · Commentaries on the Six Books of Pedanius Dioscorides on Medical Matter
A circular woodcut emblem featuring a central figure surrounded by animals including a frog, bird, fish, and snake.
1565 · All Existing Works
Woodcut illustration of a horse in profile, showing muscular detail and a curly mane.
1565 · Commentaries on the Six Books of Pedanius Dioscorides on Medical Matter
Woodcut illustration of a salamander on rocky ground.
1565 · Commentaries on the Six Books of Pedanius Dioscorides on Medical Matter
A detailed woodcut of a standing lion, intended as a model for architectural ornamentation.
1567 · The First Volume of Architecture
Botanical woodcut of Black Hellebore (Helleborus niger).
1568 · Discourses on the Six Books of Dioscorides
A detailed botanical woodcut of a rose bush (ROSE).
1568 · Discourses on the Six Books of Dioscorides
Woodcut illustration of an armadillo in a landscape with mountains and clouds.
1574 · Medicinal History of the Things Brought from Our West Indies
Woodcut illustration of three botanical specimens, one showing a dragon-like figure inside.
1574 · Medicinal History of the Things Brought from Our West Indies
Woodcut headpiece featuring a variety of birds including an owl, peacock, and rooster.
1576 · All Existing Works
A grid of ten circular woodcut vignettes depicting various animals including camels, lions, elephants, and horses.
1576 · All Existing Works
A woodcut panel containing ten circular medallions, each depicting a different animal including a camel, lion, elephant, and bear.
1576 · All Existing Works
A framed illustration of an owl (tecolotl) perched on a mound, set against a sky with horizontal red streaks.
1577 · Florentine Codex, Vol. 1 (Books 1-5)
A framed ink drawing of two birds flanking a central chalice or vessel, surrounded by floral motifs.
1577 · Florentine Codex, Vol. 2 (Books 6-9)
A scene depicting various animals including parrots, an eagle, a jaguar, and a coyote, alongside a seated indigenous person in a blue cloak.
1577 · Florentine Codex, Vol. 2 (Books 6-9)
A man in indigenous attire gesturing towards a serpent.
1577 · Florentine Codex, Vol. 2 (Books 6-9)
A stylized, hand-colored floral emblem representing a Nahua calendar sign or botanical symbol.
1577 · Florentine Codex, Vol. 1 (Books 1-5)
A man in indigenous dress gesturing towards a flowering plant in a ceramic vase, framed within a rectangular border.
1577 · Florentine Codex, Vol. 2 (Books 6-9)
Botanical woodcut of a cannabis plant (Bangue), showing the stem, serrated leaves, flowering parts, and roots.
1578 · Tractado de las Drogas y Medicinas de las Indias Orientales
Botanical woodcut of a cashew plant (Anacardium occidentale) showing leaves, flowers, and fruit.
1578 · Tractado de las Drogas y Medicinas de las Indias Orientales
A woodcut depicting an elephant being constricted by a large serpent in a landscape.
1580 · Antwerp Origins
Botanical woodcut of Victorialis longa (Allium victorialis), showing the root system, stem, broad leaves, and flower umbel.
1583 · History of Rare Plants Observed in Pannonia
Botanical woodcut of Aconitum Lycoctonum (Wolfsbane), showing the entire plant from roots to flowers, with a separate detail of a seed pod.
1583 · History of Rare Plants Observed in Pannonia
Botanical woodcut of Aconitum Lycoctonum (Wolfsbane), showing the root system, palmate leaves, a tall flowering spike, and a separate detail of the seed pod.
1583 · History of Rare Plants Observed in Pannonia
A 2x2 grid of four botanical woodcuts depicting different species of docks and sorrels.
1583 · Six Groups of the History of Plants
Woodcut illustration of duckweed (Lens lacustris) in a pond with ducks and a city wall.
1583 · Six Groups of the History of Plants
Botanical woodcut of a mandrake plant with anthropomorphic root and fruit details.
1583 · Six Groups of the History of Plants
Botanical woodcut of Chamaemorus (cloudberry), showing the rhizome, lobed leaves, a single flower, and a developing fruit.
1583 · History of Rare Plants Observed in Pannonia