The discovery of herbal medicines, their transport by ship from the East Indies and their presentation to the pagan deities. Engraving after Adolf van der Laan, 1741.
- Laan, Adolf van der, active 1717-1740.
- Date:
- [1741?]
- Reference:
- 93i
- Pictures
Selected images from this work
View 2 imagesAbout this work
Also known as
Previous title, replaced May 2023 : The discovery of herbal medicines, their transport by ship from the East Indies and their presentation to the pagan deities. Engraving.
Description
Above right is a female figure holding a flag with the letters VOC in monogram with A above, representing the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie). In the centre, one of the winged putti displays a copy of G.E. Rumphius, Het Amboinsche kruidboek, Amsterdam 1741, open at Plaat XX (p. 91) showing the fruit of the tree Cycas rumphii (queen sago). In the background is a coastal fortification in the East Indies, not obviously identifiable with either Ambon or Batavia
Publication/Creation
[1741?]
Physical description
1 print : engraving ; platemark 33.8 x 22.2 cm
Contributors
Lettering
Inventum medicina meum est, opiferque per orbem / Dicor et herbarum subjecta potentia nobis. Ovidius.
The verses in the lettering are spoken by Apollo in Ovid's Metamorphoses, book 1, verses 521-522, "Medicine is my discovery, I am called aid-bringer throughout the world and the power of herbs is under me."
Creator/production credits
Attributed to Adolf van der Laan (approx. 1690-1742): an engraving of the same composition in the same direction (but with different lettering) was published as the frontispiece to G.E. Rumphius, Het Amboinsche kruidboek, Amsterdam 1741, with credit line "A. van der Laan inv. et fecit 1741"
References note
To be sought in J. Landwehr, VOC: a bibliography of publications relating to the Dutch East India Company 1602-1800, Utrecht: HES, 1991
Reference
Wellcome Collection 93i
Type/Technique
Languages
Where to find it
Copy 1
Location Status Access Closed stores93i.1coloured with watercolour and gold
Location Status Access Closed stores93i.2