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
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About 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

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

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Where to find it

  • Copy 1

    LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores
    93i.1
  • coloured with watercolour and gold

    LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores
    93i.2

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