Bilder Adriaen van de Venne (1589–1662), after – Anatomical Lecture of Death – Copperplate Engraving from Alle de Wercken by Jacob Cats (1726)

Beskrivning

This allegorical copperplate engraving depicts a striking and morbid scene: a skeleton—Death itself—delivers an anatomical lecture to a group of onlookers gathered in a Gothic interior. The skeletal figure gestures toward a dissected corpse on the table while surrounded by bones, skulls, and macabre medical instruments. The audience includes a range of figures, from scholars and elderly men to frightened children and a dog, reinforcing the moral message of universal mortality and the limits of human knowledge.

This illustration belongs to the Ouderdom (Old Age) section of Jacob Cats’ monumental Alle de Wercken, in its richly engraved 1726 edition. The scene satirizes the pursuit of rational or scientific explanation when confronted with death’s inevitability. Cats’ accompanying verses guide the reader toward humility and moral reflection, themes central to Dutch Calvinist culture in the 17th century.
The composition is based on designs by Adriaen van de Venne, the leading visual interpreter of Cats’ emblematic and moralistic worldview. His dramatic theatrical framing and expressive gesture amplify the pedagogical tone of Cats’ work.

Artist or Maker:
Adriaen van de Venne (after)

Dimensions:
38 cm x 24.5 cm

Medium:
Copperplate engraving with letterpress

Date:
1726

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.