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This painting by Charles Emmanuel Biset illustrates an unconventional medical consultation scene, but one that was firmly rooted in 17th-century practice. It shows a doctor in the midst of evaluating a pregnancy test, a method of the time when urine examination served as an indicator for practitioners. Far from modern diagnostics, this kind of scene reflects both the nascent science and the beliefs that surrounded medicine at the time.
Biset, a 17th-century Flemish painter, excelled in interior scenes rich in detail and expression. Here, he aptly captures the moment when science and superstition collide. His work, sometimes compared to that of the Dutch masters, has found its way into prestigious collections, notably the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Quimper.
A work both anchored in its time and deliciously offbeat, perfect for those who love art history and old-time medical anecdotes.
Ref: WKD35QTZQM