Illustration til Simon Paulli, "Quadripartitum Botanicum", 1667 1667

This engraving by Albert Haelwegh from 1667 illustrates Simon Paulli's botanical treatise, "Quadripartitum Botanicum." But it does so in an interesting way, placing the text in the middle of the image, framed by an archway. The choice of Latin reflects the scientific community’s reliance on classical knowledge and the humanist tradition of the time. Paulli, as a professor of anatomy, surgery, and botany at the University of Copenhagen, was part of an emerging class of scientific and medical professionals. This book aimed to classify plants according to their medicinal properties, and it reflects the economic interests of the Danish kingdom at the time. At the bottom, we see an allegorical scene with a dog and a bird, suggesting the natural world is something to be investigated and possessed. To understand the illustration fully, we might look at the patronage system of the Danish court, the botanical knowledge of the time, and the university’s role in promoting such investigations.