14th century

In the 14th century, illustrators began to observe nature again. They still copied from older sources, but began to compare their references with what was actually growing in their monastic herb gardens. An example of this return to naturalism could be found in the 14th century Italian translation of the work by Arab physician Serapion the Younger (800 AD). The illustrations were made by an unknown Italian artist.

Serapion the Younger, Translation of the herbal (The 'Carrara Herbal'). Italy, 1390-1404