Bibliotheek van de Universiteit van Leiden 1610

Willem van Swanenburg's 1610 etching, “Bibliotheca Lugduno-Batavae cum Pulpitis et Arcis Vera Iconographia”, depicts the interior of the Leiden University Library. This detailed view showcases the bookshelves, the reading tables, the various scholars and students, and the architectural details of the building. The engraving is a significant document of 17th-century Dutch academic life and provides a glimpse into the importance of knowledge and learning during this period. Swanenburg, a gifted artist known for his architectural drawings, captures the library's grandeur with precision.