Abstract

Conrad Gesner was one of the main representatives of Renaissance-Humanism. Although having great respect for the knowledge handed down by classical antiquity, he combined his studies of the ancient authors with empirical knowledge obtained by immediate observation of nature. His most famous work was the great „Historia animalium”, a comprehense encyclopedia of zoology. Preparing this main zoological work Gesner wrote a small book about fishes „De piscibus et aquatilibus libri III novi” , through which it is possible to gain a deep insight into Gesner's preparatory work and method