Politische Ikonographie von Wissenschaft: Die Abbildung von Teylers “ungemein großer” Elektrisiermaschine, 1785/87

Abstract

This articles deals with the illustration of the very large electrical machine in Teyler’s Museum, Haarlem, as it was published by Martinus van Marum in 1787, and its complex production process. It is argued that the illustration reflects the political implications of the experimental programme in Teyler’s Museum and the incompatible ideals of science of collective versus individual achievement the different actors held. The author contends that the absence of explicit references to political questions within the experimental science is a fundamental characteristic of their political function in Dutch culture. This function can be analysed by studying the visual representations of experiments and instruments like the electrical machine.