Woodcut: 16th Century Gardener

A hand-coloured woodcut print of a 16th century gardener from 'The Herbal' or 'Krauterbuch' by Adam Lonicer (Lonitzer). The man is working with assorted tools planting in a raised bed with fruit tree behind and a grapevine. Raised wooden platforms are adjacent with pots of topiary and dianthus. Although Lonicer printed four editions of the Krauterbuch between 1557-77, the earliest edition of this image is cited as 1545 (Wellcome Library). However, this could be a 17th century copy, published in Frankfurt, c.1670.