John Jonston (1603–1675) - Armadillo, Tortoise, Freshwater Turtle, and Sea Turtle / Historiae Naturalis

John Jonston (1603–1675) was a notable naturalist and physician known for his richly illustrated works on zoology. His depictions of armadillos, tortoises, freshwater turtles, and sea turtles are part of his contributions to "Historiae Naturalis," a series that cataloged a wide array of animal species with detailed descriptions and images. In the 17th century, natural history sought to document and classify the diversity of fauna, with works like Jonston's bridging empirical observation and the artistic representation of creatures rarely seen in Europe at the time. His illustrations helped disseminate knowledge about exotic and local animals, contributing to the foundations of zoology. These depictions are valuable for understanding early scientific approaches to animal study and the global expansion of natural history during the Age of Discovery.