Geneeskunde en Minerva 1716 - 1761

This engraving of Geneeskunde en Minerva was made by Pieter Tanjé in the Netherlands in the mid-18th century. It depicts the goddess Minerva, associated with wisdom and strategic warfare, in collaboration with Geneeskunde, representing the field of medicine. The image creates meaning through its use of classical allegory, a visual code common in the 18th century to ennoble the arts and sciences. Behind Geneeskunde, we see a shelf of jars, suggesting the importance of empirical observation in medical practice. Minerva extends her hand to Geneeskunde, symbolizing the integration of intellect and practical knowledge, and hovering putti carry a book with the symbol of Asclepius, the snake. This collaboration would improve the well being of the people. In a society still heavily reliant on patronage and learned societies, works like this promoted and legitimized medical knowledge. By using these classical references, it elevates medicine to the level of classical knowledge. Researching the patronage networks of Tanjé and the intellectual climate of the Dutch Enlightenment can deepen our understanding of this print's cultural significance.