The Herbario Nuovo, published in 1585, remains a significant catalog of medicinal plants sourced from Europe and the East and West Indies. Authored by Castore Durante, a physician and botanist within the Papal States, this comprehensive text cataloged habitats and therapeutic uses in both Latin and Italian, influencing medical documentation for over a century.
Professional Education and Practice
Born in 1529 in Gualdo Tadino, Castore Durante completed his formal medical education at Perugia in 1567. His initial clinical experience was based in his hometown. His professional standing advanced significantly when he secured a teaching position at the Archiginnasio della Sapienza, known today as the Sapienza University of Rome. Due to the endorsement of Cardinal Girolamo Rusticucci, he attained the role of chief physician for Pope Sixtus V.
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Durante focused his research on botany and practical hygiene. His primary botanical work, Herbario Nuovo, utilized illustrations by Leonardo Parasole da Norcia and later woodcuts by Isabella Parasole. The volume was successful, undergoing eleven editions in German, Spanish, and Italian, with reprints circulating for 130 years. In 1586, he released Il Tesoro della Sanità, a practical manual for families regarding dietary guidelines and folk remedies. John Chamberlayne provided an English translation of this text in 1686.
Family and Final Years
Castore Durante was the son of the jurist Giovan Diletto Durante and one of six children, including his brother Pollùce. His career within the Italian Renaissance medical community concluded in 1590 upon his death in Viterbo. He was buried at the church of the Franciscan monastery in that city.
Fast facts
- Born: 1529, Gualdo Tadino
- Died: 1590, Viterbo
- Citizenship: Papal States
- Education: Perugia, 1567
- Primary Works: Herbario Nuovo (1585), Il Tesoro della Sanità (1586)
- Occupations: Physician, botanist, poet
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Castore Durante cover in Il Tesoro della Sanità?
The book serves as a collection of folk-medicine remedies intended for home use, providing specific rules for hygiene and diet.
Who provided the illustrations for the Herbario Nuovo?
The first editions featured illustrations by Leonardo Parasole da Norcia, while the third edition included woodcuts by Isabella Parasole.
