Ulisse Aldrovandi: Naturalist and Collector

A critical biography of the early modern Italian naturalist.

The Bolognese naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi was a prolific writer, polymath, and prodigious collector who amassed the largest collection of naturalia in sixteenth-century Europe, as well as hundreds of colored drawings detailing them. Many of these drawings found their way into his illustrated publications, most of which were published posthumously.

This book provides a concise yet comprehensive portrait of Aldrovandi, paying part...