An invocation to I-em-hetep, the Egyptian deity of medicine. Oil painting by Ernest Board.

One of over 26 paintings by the historical painter Ernest Board that were commissioned by Henry S. Wellcome around 1912 of episodes relating to the history of medicine and science. I-Em-Hetep or Imhotep was an Egyptian deity associated with medicine: on the far left of the painting is a colossal statue of the god to whom the worshippers pray for health. Ancient Egypt features strongly in the Wellcome historical collections, as one of the "cradles of civilization"