Architectonische omlijsting met portret van Daniel Sennert en allegoriën 1631

This engraving by Matthäus Merian the Elder depicts the title page of Daniel Sennert's "Practice of Medicine," dating from the early 17th century. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the intellectual and institutional landscape of medicine at the time. The elaborate architectural framework and allegorical figures, such as Experience and Reason, reflect the humanist tradition and its emphasis on classical learning. The central portrait of Sennert underscores the growing importance of individual authority in scientific knowledge. Made in the German region, the image also reveals the influence of the Protestant Reformation, with its focus on individual interpretation and empirical observation. Note how the image merges classical imagery with what was then modern science and medicine. To fully understand this image, we might consult university archives, publications of the era, and biographical details about Sennert. The meaning of this image, like any artwork, is contingent on its historical and cultural context.