50% Off All Framed Art, Photography and Prints at FramedArt.com My Framed Photos
Save 5% More...

Michele Mercati Art

  • Filter Your Art:
  • Print / Canvas / Frame
  • Size / Color / Shape
Size
Color
Shape
Product Types

Sorry, nothing is currently available in the category.

Michele Mercati (1541 – 1593) was born in San Miniato, Tuscany. He was a physician and superintended for the Vatican Botanical Garden under many Popes from Pius V to Clement VIII. He was educated at the University of Pisa, where he earned bachelors degrees in philosophy and medicine. Mercati was among the first scholars to recognize that prehistoric stone tools were made by humans rather than mythologically created, or natural. Mercati hypothesized that the stone tools must have been used when metal was unknown. He even cited Biblical passages to prove his hypothesis that in Biblical times, the first material used was stone. He also revitalized the Lucretius 3-age system, which described a succession of periods based on the use of wood (and stone), bronze and iron in that order. Mercati was interested in botany, medicine, palaeontology, mineralogy, and natural history, and produced a book titled the Metallotheca on these subjects. The book was not published until 1717. Mercati collected inquisitive objects – minerals, fossils, etc - as well as “thunderstones” or “ceraunia.” He was particularly interested in "wedge-shaped thunderstones," (Ceraunia cuneata), which seemed to him to be most like arrowheads and axes, and which he called "folk thunderstones," (ceraunia vulgaris), distinguishing his view from the popular one during his time. Many collectors stock a large number of framed Michele Mercati art, especially those who are interested in historical aspects of art. His art has therefore found its way into museums, academic institutions and even into private homes. They have also been showed in art exhibitions and shows.
Holiday Shipping times