Wet-nurse from BL Sloane 2435, f. 28v

Detail of historiated initial 'A' with the choosing a wet-nurse: A noble woman tests the exposed breast of a propective nurse. Image taken from f. 28v of Le Régime du corps (ff. 1-75v); Image du monde (ff. 77-133v). Written in French (Walloon dialect).

Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician and naturalist who played a crucial role in the development of British museums and libraries. Sloane was a fellow of the Royal Society and a physician to the royal family. He also traveled extensively and collected items from all over the world.

Sloane's collection was vast and eclectic, encompassing a wide range of subjects, including natural history, botany, ethnography, medicine, antiquities, and more. His manuscript collection included medieval and early modern texts, as well as materials from various cultures and time periods. His collection formed the basis for the British Museum (now part of the British Library), the Natural History Museum, and the British Museum Library (now part of the British Library).

aldobrandino of siena wet nurse sloane bl sloane manuscripts medieval initials historiated initials french manuscripts manuscript decoration illuminated initials medieval manuscript illustrated books medieval miniatures illuminations miniature illuminated manuscripts history british library france

1300 - 1500

British Library

http://europeana.eu/

Public Domain