Animals inside. Anatomy, interiority and virtue in the early modern Dutch Republic.
People in the early modern period frequently gave accounts of little animals (such as worms, flies, slugs and even dogs) living and breeding inside their bodies. This article investigates descriptions of "animals inside" in the works of Dutch anatomist Frederik Ruysch. It links the occurrence of such animals to the fear of pile worms endangering Dutch dikes and houses, and thereby the safety of society. The animals embodied pain and discomfort and were often associated with immorality and sexuality. As powerful symbols of interior corruption, they served as tangible reminders of the corruption of individuals as well as of the nation.
Knoeff
Rina
R
Faculty of Arts, Department of Art History, University of Leiden, NL. R.Knoeff@let.leidenuniv.nl
D000715:Anatomy / Q000266:history*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D010271:Parasites; D028722:Virtues