Otto Brunfels (also known as Brunsfels or Braunfels) (believed to be born in 1488 – 23 November 1534) was a German theologian and botanist. Carl von Linné listed him among the "Fathers of Botany".
After studying theology and philosophy at the University of Mainz, Brunfels entered a Carthusian monastery in Mainz and later resettled to another Carthusian monastery at Königshofen near Strasbourg. In Strasbourg he got in contact with a learned lawyer Nikolaus Gerbel (they met in person in 1519). Gerbel drew Brunfels' attention to the healing powers of plants and thus gave the impetus to the further botanical investigations.
"Christwurz" (Helleborus niger) from Herbarum vivae eicones (1530–1536)
After the conversion to the Protestantism (he was supported by Franz von Sickingen and Ulrich von Hutten), upon the insistence of the Dean of Frankfurt Johann Indagine, Brunfels became a minister at Steinau an der Straße (1521) and later, in Neuenburg am Rhein. After that he served for eight years as the head of a Carmelite school in Strasbourg. In the list of most important heretics published by the order of the Emperor by the University of Leuven (1550), Brunfels was listed first.
In one of his works he defended Ulrich von Hutten against Erasmus of Rotterdam and published the manuscripts from the Jan Hus heritage. Brunfels' Catalogi virorum illustrium 1527 is considered to be the first book on the history of evangelical Church.
After his friend Ulrich von Hutten had died (1523), Brunfels' religious views brought him into a controversy with Martin Luther and Huldrych Zwingli. Later on he began to study medicine at the University of Basel, (MD 1532). In 1532 Brunfels became a city physician (Stadtarzt) in Bern, where he stayed till the end of his life.
Besides of his numerous theological works, Brunfels published treatises on pedagogics, Arabic language, pharmaceutics, entomology[1] and botany. He is often called a father of botany, because, in his botanical writings, he relied not so much on the ancient authors as on his own observations and described plants according to the latter. In his Herbarum vivae eicones (1530 and 1536, in three parts) and Contrafayt Kräuterbuch (1532–1537, in two parts), the German plants he himself found during his botanical studies are represented with woodcuts (by Hans Weiditz) under their Germanvernacular names. However, Duane Isely attributes much of Brunfels' popularity to Weiditz, whose woodcuts set a new standard technically, and were done from life, rather being copied from previous works. Brunfels also introduced information about German plants not found in Dioscorides, and described them independently of their medical values, although the descriptions are often poorly written.[2][3][4][5]
A plant genus Brunfelsia (Solanaceae) is named after him.
Othonis Brvnfelsii Pro Vlricho Hutteno defuncto ad Erasmi Roter. Spongiam Responsio (1523)
Processus consistorialis Martyrii Io. Huss (1524); German edition: Geistl. Bluthandel Iohannis Hussz zu Constenz (1524 or 1525)
Pandectarum Veteris et Novi Testamenti (1527)
Catalogi virorum illustrium veteris et novi testamenti (1527)
Catechesis puerorum in fide, in literis et in moribus (1529)
Herbarum vivae eicones, 3 Bde. (1530–36)
Catalogus illustrium medicorum seu de primis medicinae scriptoribus (1530)
Iatron medicamentorum simplicium (1533)
Contrafayt Kreüterbuch (mit naturgetreuen Abb. v. Hans Weiditz), 2 Vols., (1532–1537)
Onomastikon medicinae, continens omnia nomina herbarum, fruticum etc. (1534)
Epitome medices, summam totius medicinae complectens (1540)
In Dioscoridis historiam plantarum certissima adaptatio (1543)
Von allerhandt apotheckischen Confectionen, Lattwergen, Oel, Pillulen, Träncken, Trociscen, Zucker scheiblein, Salben unnd Pflastern etc. : wie, wenn und warzu man jeses brauchen soll. Gülfferich, Frankfurt am Main (1552)
Sourcesedit
Bautz, Friedrich Wilhelm (1975). "Braunfels (Brunfels), Otto (Otho)". In Bautz, Friedrich Wilhelm (ed.). Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL) (in German). Vol. 1. Hamm: Bautz. cols. 735–736. ISBN3-88309-013-1.
Jahn, Ilse, ed. Geschichte der Biologie. Spektrum 2000
Mägdefrau, Karl. Geschichte der Botanik. Fischer, Stuttgart 1973, S. 20–36.
Meyers Konversationslexikon 1888–1889
Notesedit
^"Groll, E. K. Biografien der Entomologen der Welt : Datenbank".[permanent dead link]
^Agnes Arber. Herbals. Their origin and evolution. A chapter in the history of botany 1470–1670. University Press, Cambridge 1912. (S. 47–69: The Herbal in Germany)
^Gerhard Baader. Mittelalter und Neuzeit im Werk von Otto Brunfels. In: Medizinhistorisches Journal, Band 13 (1978), S. 186–203.
^Walther Rytz. Pflanzenaquarelle des Hans Weiditz aus dem Jahre 1529. Die Originale zu den Holzschnitten im Brunfels’schen Kräuterbuch. Haupt, Bern 1936.
^Ferdinand Wilhelm Emil Roth. Otto Brunfels 1489–1534. Ein deutscher Botaniker. In: Botanische Zeitung, 58 (1900), S. 191–232.
University of Oklahoma Libraries: images of works by and portraits of Brunfels
Kräuterbuch 1532 – 1537
Herbarum vivae eicones I, 1530 – III, 1536
A selection of high-resolution scans of pages with botanical illustrations from Brunfels' 1530 Herbarium – from the Linda Hall Library
February 16, 2024
otto, brunfels, also, known, brunsfels, braunfels, believed, born, 1488, november, 1534, german, theologian, botanist, carl, linné, listed, among, fathers, botany, portrait, hans, baldung, 1534born1488near, mainz, electorate, mainzdied23, november, 1534bern, s. Otto Brunfels also known as Brunsfels or Braunfels believed to be born in 1488 23 November 1534 was a German theologian and botanist Carl von Linne listed him among the Fathers of Botany Otto BrunfelsPortrait by Hans Baldung c 1534Born1488near Mainz Electorate of MainzDied23 November 1534Bern Swiss ConfederacyEducationUniversity of MainzChurchLutheranWritingsCatalogi virorum illustriumHerbarum vivae eicones Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 Sources 3 1 Notes 4 External linksLife editAfter studying theology and philosophy at the University of Mainz Brunfels entered a Carthusian monastery in Mainz and later resettled to another Carthusian monastery at Konigshofen near Strasbourg In Strasbourg he got in contact with a learned lawyer Nikolaus Gerbel they met in person in 1519 Gerbel drew Brunfels attention to the healing powers of plants and thus gave the impetus to the further botanical investigations nbsp Christwurz Helleborus niger from Herbarum vivae eicones 1530 1536 After the conversion to the Protestantism he was supported by Franz von Sickingen and Ulrich von Hutten upon the insistence of the Dean of Frankfurt Johann Indagine Brunfels became a minister at Steinau an der Strasse 1521 and later in Neuenburg am Rhein After that he served for eight years as the head of a Carmelite school in Strasbourg In the list of most important heretics published by the order of the Emperor by the University of Leuven 1550 Brunfels was listed first In one of his works he defended Ulrich von Hutten against Erasmus of Rotterdam and published the manuscripts from the Jan Hus heritage Brunfels Catalogi virorum illustrium 1527 is considered to be the first book on the history of evangelical Church After his friend Ulrich von Hutten had died 1523 Brunfels religious views brought him into a controversy with Martin Luther and Huldrych Zwingli Later on he began to study medicine at the University of Basel MD 1532 In 1532 Brunfels became a city physician Stadtarzt in Bern where he stayed till the end of his life Besides of his numerous theological works Brunfels published treatises on pedagogics Arabic language pharmaceutics entomology 1 and botany He is often called a father of botany because in his botanical writings he relied not so much on the ancient authors as on his own observations and described plants according to the latter In his Herbarum vivae eicones 1530 and 1536 in three parts and Contrafayt Krauterbuch 1532 1537 in two parts the German plants he himself found during his botanical studies are represented with woodcuts by Hans Weiditz under their German vernacular names However Duane Isely attributes much of Brunfels popularity to Weiditz whose woodcuts set a new standard technically and were done from life rather being copied from previous works Brunfels also introduced information about German plants not found in Dioscorides and described them independently of their medical values although the descriptions are often poorly written 2 3 4 5 A plant genus Brunfelsia Solanaceae is named after him The standard author abbreviation Brunfels is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name 6 Works editOthonis Brvnfelsii Pro Vlricho Hutteno defuncto ad Erasmi Roter Spongiam Responsio 1523 Processus consistorialis Martyrii Io Huss 1524 German edition Geistl Bluthandel Iohannis Hussz zu Constenz 1524 or 1525 Pandectarum Veteris et Novi Testamenti 1527 Catalogi virorum illustrium veteris et novi testamenti 1527 Catechesis puerorum in fide in literis et in moribus 1529 Herbarum vivae eicones 3 Bde 1530 36 Catalogus illustrium medicorum seu de primis medicinae scriptoribus 1530 Iatron medicamentorum simplicium 1533 Contrafayt Kreuterbuch mit naturgetreuen Abb v Hans Weiditz 2 Vols 1532 1537 Onomastikon medicinae continens omnia nomina herbarum fruticum etc 1534 Epitome medices summam totius medicinae complectens 1540 In Dioscoridis historiam plantarum certissima adaptatio 1543 Von allerhandt apotheckischen Confectionen Lattwergen Oel Pillulen Trancken Trociscen Zucker scheiblein Salben unnd Pflastern etc wie wenn und warzu man jeses brauchen soll Gulfferich Frankfurt am Main 1552 Sources editBautz Friedrich Wilhelm 1975 Braunfels Brunfels Otto Otho In Bautz Friedrich Wilhelm ed Biographisch Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon BBKL in German Vol 1 Hamm Bautz cols 735 736 ISBN 3 88309 013 1 Isely Duane 2002 One Hundred and One Botanists West Lafayette Indiana Purdue University Press pp 17 19 ISBN 978 1 55753 283 1 OCLC 947193619 Retrieved 2018 11 27 Jahn Ilse ed Geschichte der Biologie Spektrum 2000 Magdefrau Karl Geschichte der Botanik Fischer Stuttgart 1973 S 20 36 Meyers Konversationslexikon 1888 1889Notes edit Groll E K Biografien der Entomologen der Welt Datenbank permanent dead link Agnes Arber Herbals Their origin and evolution A chapter in the history of botany 1470 1670 University Press Cambridge 1912 S 47 69 The Herbal in Germany Gerhard Baader Mittelalter und Neuzeit im Werk von Otto Brunfels In Medizinhistorisches Journal Band 13 1978 S 186 203 Walther Rytz Pflanzenaquarelle des Hans Weiditz aus dem Jahre 1529 Die Originale zu den Holzschnitten im Brunfels schen Krauterbuch Haupt Bern 1936 Ferdinand Wilhelm Emil Roth Otto Brunfels 1489 1534 Ein deutscher Botaniker In Botanische Zeitung 58 1900 S 191 232 International Plant Names Index Brunfels External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Otto Brunfels Otto Brunfels in the German National Library catalogue University of Oklahoma Libraries images of works by and portraits of Brunfels Krauterbuch 1532 1537 Herbarum vivae eicones I 1530 III 1536 A selection of high resolution scans of pages with botanical illustrations from Brunfels 1530 Herbarium from the Linda Hall Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Otto Brunfels amp oldid 1173456348, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
