Frontispiece from Thomas Sprat's "The History of the Royal Society of London" 1667

Wenceslaus Hollar created this frontispiece in 1667 for Thomas Sprat's "History of the Royal Society of London", a book which defended the formation of the Royal Society. The print is rich with the visual language of its time. King Charles II is prominently featured, his bust centered and crowned by an angel, underscoring his role as the society’s patron. To the sides, we see allegorical figures representing the practical and theoretical aspects of the society's pursuits. Francis Bacon, representing scientific inquiry, is on the right. On the left is William Brouncker, the first president of the society. Note the architecture, the scientific instruments, and the books, each element carefully placed to convey the society’s mission of advancing knowledge. This image then, isn’t just a title page, it’s a carefully constructed argument about the power and authority of empirical science during a time of immense social change.