Event time:
Monday, October 20, 2025 - 9:00am to Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 9:00am
Location:
Sterling Memorial Library, Hanke Gallery (120 High Street)
Event description:
On view October 20, 2025–March 22, 2026 at Sterling Memorial Library.
The long history of medical herbals—written descriptions of plants and their healing properties— is a history of revolution. An illustrated herbal, or “book of simples,” is not only an index of plant cures; it represents a world view, uniting scientific observation with an appreciation of nature’s beauty.
As they developed from the Middle Ages to the present day, medical herbals reveal an evolving understanding of the human body, of nature, and how we organize knowledge and see our place in the world. They intertwine art, botany, human physiology, and spirituality.
Herbal-derived medicines—from analgesics to chemotherapeutics— still have a prominent place in hospitals and medicine cabinets. Scientific advances reaffirm the plant kingdom’s role in generating novel, effective therapeutics. Medical herbals, including those displayed in this exhibition, remind us of the potential healing power of nature.
Curator: Matthew Morrison, MD
Lecturer, Yale Humanities
Admission:
Free