De ontdekking van de Natuur, Hans Mulder

From the early sixteenth century onward, a growing number of studies appeared in Europe describing and drawing or painting animals and plants. In the centuries that followed, research into the natural world deepened, and the art of depicting this wondrous world was perfected.

“The Discovery of Nature” showcases these discoveries, interspersed with anecdotes about the people who, between 1500 and 1900, contributed significantly to our understanding of the life around us. Read about Van Leeuwenhoek, who discovered bacteria in his own dental plaque using a microscope he built himself. Or how the young Charles Darwin laid the foundation for his theory of evolution during his voyage on the Beagle.

Hans Mulder is a historian by training and works as the curator of Natural History for the Allard Pierson Collections of the University of Amsterdam. He publishes on the history of the book and how Western society’s view of nature changed over time. He also lectures on these topics at the University of Amsterdam. Many of the most important natural history manuscripts, printed books, drawings, and watercolors that Mulder used in this book can be found in the Artis Library, part of the Allard Pierson Museum.