Born in Bologna, educated at Bologna and Padua universities, Ulisse Aldrovandi (1522–
1605), is generally known as a naturalist and biologist, the author a great work: Natural
History, in which he aimed to contain his entire knowledge of nature. Aldrovandi was a man
of very receptive mind, thoroughly educated and thus he was appointed to various offi ces
throughout his life. He was the Head of the Chair of Natural Sciences at the Bologna University. He contributed to the opening of the municipal botanical garden of which he was
the director for many years. While holding the offi ce of Protomedicus, he compiled the fi rst
Bologna’s pharmacopoeia which is still binding in the city. He spent most of his free time and
funds on travelling and collecting materials for his Natural History. His steadily growing collection of books, manuscripts, drawings and natural exhibits was displayed in his own house
and was available to visitors. In his last will, Aldrovandi bequeathed his natural collection
and library to the Senate of Bologna which transferred the collection to the Municipal Palace. The surviving exhibits and prints are now kept at the Palazzo Poggi and the University
Library in Bologna.
keywords in Polish:
Ulisses Aldrovandi, Marcin Fox, szesnastowieczne kolekcje przyrodnicze, naturaliści, encyklopedyści
keywords in English:
Ulisse Aldrovandi, Marcin Fox, 16th-century collections of natural exhibits, naturalists, encyclopaedists