Born in Vienna in 1735, Plenck was a famous physician and botanist with many interests in anatomy and pharmacology. In 1770 the Empress Maria Theresia had founded the University of Tyrnau and Plenck was to serve as professor on suregeon and obstetrician. In 1783 he applied to Joseph II, the Emperor, as director of the military pharmacies in Vienna and was appointed professor of chemistry and botany. Plenck was without any doubt one of the pioneer in botany, whose work was noted for its accurate scientific description of its subjects. This print is an exceptionally rare engraving from the first and only edition of Joseph Jacob Plenck’s work "Icones Plantarum Medicinalium secundum systema Linnaei digestarum, cum enumeratione virum et usus medici, chirurgici atque diaetetici" published between 1788 in Vienna that - under the patronage of the Empress Maria Theresia, Emperor Francis I and Joseph II, during the 18th century - became an important center of botanical studies. "Icones" was dedicated to Joseph II, and described by Blunt as "delightful, and very decorative in treatment" (Blunt, p. 177). The copper plates were drawn in the style of Nikolaus Jacquin and exquisitely hand colored on chain-linked paper. Plenck depicts the flowers and plants in their natural size, with the root beside them. The titles appear in both Latin and German and follow Linnaeus in giving to each plant two-word Latin names.