Coloured plant drawings from the Trew Library

The Universitätsbibliothek Erlangen-Nürnberg (Friedrich Alexander University -FAU University Library) preserves a large collection of botanical works from the Late Middle Ages and Early Modern Period, which come from the Schlossbibliothek Ansbach (Ansbach Castle Library), the library of the former University of Altdorf and several scholarly libraries. All important botanists are represented, including J. Wonnecke, L. Fuchs, O. Brunfels, H. Bock, P. A. Mattiolus, E. Blackwell and P. J. Redouté.

Among the treasures there are 13 volumes with coloured plant drawings from the 18th century (MS 2380). The original drawings in watercolour or gouache technique come from what is probably the most important private scientific collection of the 18th century in the German-speaking world: the scholarly library of the Nuremberg city physician Dr Christoph Jacob Trew (1695-1769). The collection was transferred to Erlangen in 1818 following the dissolution of Altdorf University, which Trew bequeathed the library to in his will in 1768.

Trew grew up as the son of a pharmacist in Lauf an der Pegnitz and became enthusiastic about natural history as a child. After his doctorate at the University of Altdorf in 1717, he practised as a doctor in his home country and soon enjoyed an excellent reputation. At the same time he worked as a scholar, author and passionate book collector: he collected some 34,000 medical and scientific works covering a broad scientific spectrum over the decades. He was particularly passionate about scientific illustrations, first and foremost plant representations.

Trew commissioned most of the plant drawings from Nuremberg artists himself between 1733 and 1768: among them G. W. Bauernfeind, G. D. Ehret, N. F. Eisenberger, J. G. Esper, L. Fischer, C. D. Henning, Jos. Karell, J. C. Keller, F. Kirschner, M. M. Peyerlein and G. C. Walwert. 1,350 unique plant watercolours were created, which were conceived as botanical illustrations. Some of the sheets date from the time after Trew's death and were probably collected in Altdorf. Trew attached the greatest importance to lifelike representation, which in no way diminished the artistic and aesthetic value. The scientific significance for the present is also undisputed: the plant drawings bear witness to an important stage in the development from the beginnings of botany to the science of today.

• The objects of the collection "Coloured plant drawings from the Trew Library" available on bavarikon

>> This collection is part of the holdings of the Universitätsbibliothek Erlangen-Nürnberg (Friedrich Alexander University Library).