Titelprent voor 'Myographia nova sive Musculorum omnium (...) accuratissima descriptio' van John Browne 1694

Romeyn de Hooghe made this etching for the title page of John Browne’s “Myographia nova” in Amsterdam in 1694. It presents us with an allegory of anatomical knowledge. We see a draped figure pointing towards an écorché, a flayed figure displaying the muscles beneath. The écorché derives from the anatomical tradition of the Renaissance, which saw a revival in the Dutch Republic. In the 17th-century, the Dutch Republic witnessed increasing secularization and scientific advancement, and a growing emphasis on empirical observation and rational inquiry. This is also seen in its art; think of Rembrandt's "The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp". Through such precise anatomical depictions, art was increasingly influenced by science. To truly understand this image, we can look at the rise of scientific societies, medical schools, and the publication of scientific treatises. These sources and institutions offer a window into the cultural values that shaped the production and reception of art in the Dutch Golden Age. Ultimately, this image represents the changing relationship between art, science, and society.