My Magical Herba (Ms MK 2)

Well, actually no one forbids to create your own manuscript in the XXI Century. So I went on with my idea to create a herbal with magical herbs on it. Most of the information I put in it are taken from the Encyclpedia of Magical Herbs of Scutt Cunnigham, but then I increased it with notions from different sources in order to give a complete view of each flower.

The idea is to follow the classification of plants that Cunnigham followed: so masculine/feminine, planet/star (Sun, Venus, Mars etc.), dominant element (air, water, earth and fire).

Technically I used an A3 format sheet, trasformed in an old sheet through use of coffee (well Italian Coffee) to make it old. I kept this format, without trimming the edges. Moreover I used my calligraphy to fill up the spaces, using a 2 coloumns format when I had all the width of the sheet t my disposal. I also used a some kind of Italian, following the tradition of the medieval Herbals (the best were written in Italian in the Middle Age).

I also loved to use my knowledge of the Arabic alphabet to write the name of flowers also in Persian ( I actually studied it a little and I can master the letters)

I started with a quite extravagant flower: Passiflora Incarnata

First the sketch of the flower:

Here a better view:

Here bottom with the colours simply colored:

The final results:

 

Italian herbal - Vermont Manuscript: Erba Mula Campana

Here it is the "Erba Mula Campana", taken from folio 12 of the Vermont Manuscript.
Ecco l'Erba Mula Campana" presa dal 12 foglio del Manoscritto Vermont

 

Text

Testo

ERBA MULA CAMPANA VEL CUROPIONE. NASCE IN LUOGHI ASPRI E MONTI SABIONOSI. HA EL GHUSTO ASPRO LE SUE FOGLIE. EL SEME MINUTO. LA BARBA GRANDE IN FORMA DI CAMPANA IN COLORE D'ALOE. VALE A BACHI FACTO EMPIASTRO DELLA SUA RADICE SOPRA IL BELLICO TUTTI GL'UCCIDE E CHACCIALI FUORI DEL CORPO COCTA IN ACQUA D'ORZO EL POLMONE MANGIANDOLA. L'AUTORE L'AFFERMA IN PIU' VIRTU' PROFICABILI. VALE A MALE DI MATRE DARME BERE IN POLVERE CON VINO BIANCHO TOGLE IL DOLORE

 

Italian Herbal - Vermont Manuscript "Herba Luccia"

This was quite a challenge. I had to draw a real and beautiful face representing the root of this herb that has magical powers in love (if you chew it while you kiss your partner - !!! -  he/she will agree on all your desires)

I had also to split in two the original page.

Here is the building up of this new folio of mines 

(Drawings by Michele L. SAVASTA FIORE)

 

 

 

Here the text:

ERBA LUCCIA TERZA TERZA VEL CAPO D'UOMO IN GRECO. NASCE IN MONTI MARMOSI. FA TRE FOGLIE IN QUESTA FORMA: FALLE ADDENTATA CUM VERGHE AZURRE ET FIORE AZURRO E MELE A MODI DI MANDRACOLA MA NON TONDE COME FA LA MANDRACOLA E LA BARBA COME CORPO D'UOMO. VUOLSI CORRE DI GIUGNO CH'E' MATURA ET HA SAPORE DI BORRACE (?) E PUGNE UN POCHO LA LINGUA ET SEME FA MINUTO COME LA SENAPE  ET E' MOLTO CALDO. LA RADICE PORTATA CUM SECHO HA FORZA DI FARTI AMARE A CHI TU VEDE. ET HAVENDO QUESTA RADICE IN BOCCHA E BACIANDO ALCHUNA PERSONA T'AMERA' PERFECTAMENTE E NON SI PARTIRA' DA TUO SERVIGIO E DAL TUO COMANDO. ET SE LA VUOI PROVARE HABBI UNO ANIMALE ET BACIALO CON ESSA IN BOCCHA. TI SEGUIRA' PER TUCTO DOVE VORRAI. L'AUTORE L'AFFERMA IN PIU' VIRTU' PROFICABILI COLTA SOTTO IL SEGNO DI CANCER.