An itinerant surgeon extracting stones from a man's head; symbolising the expulsion of 'folly' (insanity) Line engraving by L. van Leyden, 1524.

  • Lucas, van Leyden, 1494-1533.
Date:
1524
Reference:
21078i
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About this work

Description

The images of a surgeon (often itinerant) making an incision in a patient's head in order to extract 'stones' (implying madness in the individual) do not represent an actual operation, but are allegorical scenes refering to the subduction of 'folly' (madness) from the body. See further: W. Schupbach, A new look at The cure of folly, Medical history, 1978, vol. 22, pp. 267-281

Publication/Creation

1524

Physical description

1 print : line engraving ; image 11.6 x 7.5 cm

Reference

Wellcome Collection 21078i

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