[The physician and author. On the participation of physicians in late middle age publishing]

Area of Science:

• History of Medicine
• German Literature
• 15th-Century Studies

Background:

• The 15th century in Germany had a significant number of physicians who were also men of letters.
• This article focuses on three prominent Southern German physicians: Johannes Hartlieb, Hermann Schedel, and Hartmann Schedel.
• All three studied in Italy and gained renown as both physicians and writers during the second third of the century.

Discussion:

• Johannes Hartlieb's 'Alexanderroman' is analyzed to reveal how his medical expertise influenced its central themes, connecting it to his 'Kräuterbuch'.
• Hermann Schedel's studies in Padua and his manuscripts detailing patients' professions are examined.
• Hartmann Schedel's 'Weltchronik', famed for illustrations, is presented as a physician's work, including biographical details of 40 contemporary medical figures.

Key Insights:

• The medical profession deeply influenced the literary output of 15th-century German intellectuals.
• Hartlieb's 'Alexanderroman' demonstrates a physician's perspective in its narrative.
• Schedel's works provide insights into patient-physician relationships and the medical community of the era.

Outlook:

• Further research could explore the broader impact of physicians on Renaissance literature.
• Comparative studies of medical texts and literary works from this period may yield new understandings.
• The 15th century can be characterized as the 'century of the physician' due to their significant intellectual contributions.