A malicious itinerant surgeon extracting stones from a grimacing patient's head; symbolising the extraction of 'folly' (insanity). Mezzotint by J. van der Bruggen after D. Teniers.

  • Teniers, David, 1610-1690.
Date:
1600-1699
Reference:
21118i
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About this work

Description

The images of a surgeon (often itinerant) making an incision in a patient's head in order to extract 'stones' (implying madness in the individual) do not represent an actual operation, but are allegorical scenes refering to the subduction of 'folly' (madness) from the body. See further: W. Schupbach, A new look at The cure of folly, Medical history, 1978, vol. 22, pp. 267-281

Publication/Creation

1600-1699

Physical description

1 print : mezzotint ; platemark 18.9 x 14.1 cm

Lettering

JVB f

Reference

Wellcome Collection 21118i

Reproduction note

An impression of this print, with lettering below and large margins, is reproduced in a trompe l'oeil painting by Johann Michael Hambach of Cologne (17th century): the painting was sold at Sotheby's, London, 30 October 1998, lot 134

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