Axial Commons Image Treasury
Engraved allegory of classical deities on clouds above a harbour with sailing ships, a cherub holding plants, and a Latin inscription below.

The discovery of herbal medicines, their transport by ship from the East Indies and their presentation to the pagan deities. Engraving after Adolf van der Laan, 1741.

An engraved allegory shows robed deities and winged figures gathered on clouds above a harbour where sailing ships ride at anchor. A cherub holds a bundle of plants while a figure in a red-and-blue gown carries a bough, and a Latin inscription runs along the lower margin.

Artist
Adolf van der Laan
Date
[1741?]
Medium
Allegorical prints Engravings
Source
Wellcome Collection
Size
2707 × 4000 px
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Public domain · Wellcome Collection marks it Public Domain Mark; made by 1751.
Rights checked 2026-11-05 · tier A · as stated by the source: Public Domain Mark (Wellcome Collection)

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): Wellcome Collection

Español: El descubrimiento de las hierbas medicinales, grabado alegórico

Un grabado alegórico muestra deidades con túnicas y figuras aladas reunidas entre nubes sobre un puerto donde navegan barcos de vela. Un querubín sostiene un manojo de plantas, mientras una figura con vestido rojo y azul lleva una rama, y una inscripción latina recorre el margen inferior.

Português: A descoberta das ervas medicinais, gravura alegórica

Uma gravura alegórica mostra divindades com mantos e figuras aladas reunidas entre nuvens sobre um porto onde navios à vela estão ancorados. Um querubim segura um feixe de plantas, enquanto uma figura de vestido vermelho e azul carrega um ramo, e uma inscrição em latim percorre a margem inferior.

Greek and Roman MythsVirtues and AllegoriesThe Sea and ShipsAnatomy and Medicineallegorical engravingherbal medicineclassical deitiessailing shipsharbourengraving1741 printcloudscherubslatin inscriptiondutch east india companybotanical allegory

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