Portret van René Descartes 1650 - 1652

This is Jacob van Meurs's portrait of René Descartes, made as an engraving sometime in the mid-17th century. It’s a fascinating image to consider in the context of the burgeoning scientific revolution of the time. Descartes, the famed philosopher and mathematician, is presented here not as a man of the church, but as a figure of intellectual authority. Look at his gaze; direct, confident, and projecting an image of reasoned capability. This reflects a broader cultural shift where empirical observation and rational thought were gaining prominence over traditional dogma. The portrait presents Descartes as a 'NATURE FILIUS', one who 'reveals the inner workings of Mathematics in the Mind'. Van Meurs's portrait participates in the making of a new kind of hero: the thinker. To fully understand this work, we can turn to the social and intellectual history of the 17th century. The rise of scientific societies, the publication of groundbreaking scientific texts, and the debates between science and religion all provide a rich backdrop against which to view this image.