[Anselmus Boetius de Boodt (1550-1632) Brugs humanist to the court of Austria].
Sir Anselmus Boëtius De Boodt (Brugge, 1550-1632) is a typical Renaissance figure of the Low Countries living in a transitional and difficult period. He studied successively the Artes at the university of Leuven, canonic and civil law in Douai and Orleans and later medecine in Heidelberg and Padova. However his interest in law switched to the study of nature in all its aspects. Gifted in science as well as in arts he could develop all his talents at the outstanding cultural court of Austria where he spent thirty year becoming the personal physician and councelor of emperor Rudolphe II. Doctor De Boodt published an encyclopedia of mineralogy and illusrated his manuscript on mechanics for at that time scientists had to produce their instruments themselves. His good relationship with the court engrave Martin Rota and with the court historian Typotius brought him to achieve both their works after they died. Influenced by the high artistic level at the court, he started painting aquarelles himself. Back in Brugge he could develop his linguistic and literary gifts by publishing in Nederdiets. Meanwhile he prepared a pharmacopea illustrated with sixty cupperplates that was published post-humously. Alternating with his medical practice he took pleasure in painting and musicing for he composed a lutebook. Active until his last years, he died at the age of 82. He had always aimed, as he said, at deepening and widening human knowledge. His work can be found in the major European libraries.
De Boodt-Maselis
Marie-Christiane
MC
D001317:Austria; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D019021:Natural History / Q000266:history; D010151:Paintings / Q000266:history; D010602:Pharmacopoeias as Topic / Q000266:history; D010820:Physicians / Q000266:history