Science ۞ Myth ۞ Symbology

Three of our newest digitally restored prints now available in our shop.

Slide 1—

Human Dissection Two Anatomical Figures by Jacques-Fabien Gautier d’Agoty

Diptych: left side is a standing dissected male figure looking to left, resting his left hand on a ledge, with two separate figures of the heart; right side is a standing écorché, posterior view, with left arm raised to the temple.

Oil painting. 1764

(𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘸𝘰—𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯—𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘎𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘥’𝘈𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴.)

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Slide 2—

La Femme Chauve-Souris by Albert Joseph Pénot

Albert Joseph Pénot was a French painter best known for his female nudes and landscapes. He was all about capturing the female form with precise anatomical detail. His work almost always centered on a single woman, while the backgrounds often stayed vague—just soft mist, shadows, and light. The setting was never the main focus; instead, he let his figures take center stage, standing out against dreamy, hazy backdrops.

Oil painting. 1890

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Slide 3—

Vanitas Still Life by Herman Henstenburgh

This vibrant take on mortality by Dutch artist, Herman Henstenburgh is surprisingly colorful considering the subject matter. In this undated watercolor painting, a skull is decorated with flowers. The table is scattered with symbolic touches—a butterfly, sheet music, a flickering candle, and an hourglass—reminders of how fleeting life really is.

Watercolor, gouache, and gum arabic on parchment. Likely late 17th century; exact year unknown.