Head of a female viper
Date
2 November 1664
Creator
Robert Hooke (1635 - 1703, British) , Natural philosopher
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p1
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 308mm
width (page): 193mm
width (page): 193mm
Subject
Description
Sketch of the head of a female viper, open-mouthed, showing fangs, teeth, one eye and nostril. Accompanied by detailed descriptive text headed 'An account of a viper. by Mr Hook'. This was read to the Royal Society on 2 November 1664, and ordered to be registered.
The Italian natural philosopher Francesco Redi and the French apothecary Moyse Charas engaged in a dispute over the viper's fangs and poison in the 1670s, but Hooke's study seems too early to be related to the work of these continental philosophers.
Copies of the drawing can be found in the Register Book Original at RBO/3/063 and its copy at RBC/2/192.
The Italian natural philosopher Francesco Redi and the French apothecary Moyse Charas engaged in a dispute over the viper's fangs and poison in the 1670s, but Hooke's study seems too early to be related to the work of these continental philosophers.
Copies of the drawing can be found in the Register Book Original at RBO/3/063 and its copy at RBC/2/192.
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 2 November 1664, ‘There was also read Mr. Hooke’s fuller account of the teeth of a viper seen thro’ the microscope transparent and hollow, together with other observations made of the internal parts of that animal; which account was ordered to be registered’ (Birch 1:480-81). Text and figure printed in Birch 1:481-82.
Associated place