Weasel (Mustela nivalis), Anselmus Boëtius de Boodt, 1596 - 1610
brush, h 245mm × w 177mm More details
The natural sciences underwent profound change at the end of the 16th century. From then on, personal observation and experimentation were certainly just as important as ancient writings. Illustrated albums and books to convey this new visual information had to be compiled and written. De Boodt set about this encyclopaedically. He recorded rare specimens as well as more commonplace species, like these weasels, with astonishing accuracy.
