Geneesheer Johan van Beverwijk bestudeert boeken en zit met Apollo aan tafel in interieur 1612 - 1656

This undated print by Cornelis van Dalen I, now in the Rijksmuseum, depicts the physician Johan van Beverwijk with Apollo at his table. This image creates meaning by drawing on visual codes and cultural references specific to the Dutch Republic. The setting is intimate, yet scholarly. Van Beverwijk, the esteemed city physician of Dordrecht, is shown in consultation with Apollo, the Greek god of medicine and healing. This juxtaposition of classical and contemporary figures elevates Van Beverwijk's status, aligning him with the revered traditions of ancient knowledge. We see in the background shelves of books and instruments referencing the institutions of science. Figures of a living man and a skeleton remind us of medicine's preoccupation with mortality. Understanding this print requires considering the social and institutional context of the Dutch Golden Age, a time when science and medicine were rapidly advancing. Prints like these were vital to the circulation of knowledge and were luxury items that spoke to the social standing of their owners. To fully appreciate this artwork, scholars consult a range of resources, from medical texts and scientific treatises to social histories of the Dutch Republic, uncovering the complex interplay between art, science, and society.