Portret van Isaac Newton 1741 - 1743

Jacob Houbraken made this print of Isaac Newton sometime in the 18th century using engraving. It’s a study in how enlightenment ideas about science circulated through the institutions of art. Consider how the image uses visual codes to create meaning and attach cultural importance to Newton as an individual. Note the pyramid, classical figures, and scientific instruments. The pyramid is a symbol of enduring knowledge, linking Newton to ancient wisdom. The classical figures represent enlightenment ideals and the pursuit of knowledge through reason and observation. And then, of course, the instruments of science! Houbraken’s image certainly partakes in what we might call a cult of Newton, a construction of his image for public consumption. To understand this print better, one would need to research the printmaking industry in the Dutch Republic and the markets for these kinds of images. What was the relationship between art and science in the 18th century?