Rene Descartes Collection

Rene Descartes, French mathematician
Rene Descartes (1596-1650), French mathematician and philosopher, also known as Renatus Cartesius. Descartes most important scientific works were in mathematics

PSCI2A-00082
Rene Descartes at Amsterdam. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Rene Descartes, French mathematician
Rene Descartes (1596-1650), French mathematician and philosopher. His coat-of-arms (upper right) mark his self-styled title of Lord of Perron

ReneDescartes. Creator: Unknown
Rene Descartes

Atmospheric refraction
5311876 Atmospheric refraction; (add.info.: Engraving depicting atmospheric refraction. Rene Descartes diagram explaining the rainbow)

Illustration by Rene Descartes, showing the reflection of light. From Opera Philosophica; Frankfurt; 1692
5311508 Illustration by Rene Descartes, showing the reflection of light. From Opera Philosophica; Frankfurt; 1692; Universal History Archive/UIG

Rene Descartes idea of vision
5310106 Rene Descartes idea of vision; (add.info.: Diagram illustrating Rene Descartes idea of vision, showing the function of the eye, optic nerve, and brain)

Illustration by Rene Descartes, showing the theory of terrestrial and celestial magnetism
5311509 Illustration by Rene Descartes, showing the theory of terrestrial and celestial magnetism. From Principia Philosophica; Amsterdam, 1672; Universal History Archive/UIG

Illustration by Rene Descartes, showing the parabolic course of a projectile. From Epistolae; Amsterdam 1668
5311506 Illustration by Rene Descartes, showing the parabolic course of a projectile. From Epistolae; Amsterdam 1668; Universal History Archive/UIG

Rene Descartes, English philosopher and writer. Copperplate engraving by Joshua Collyer from The Copper Plate Magazine
FLO4608023 Rene Descartes, English philosopher and writer. Copperplate engraving by Joshua Collyer from The Copper Plate Magazine or Monthly Treasure, G

Refraction of rays inside the human eye, from Dioptrique by Descartes, 1637 (engraving)
CUL4935125 Refraction of rays inside the human eye, from Dioptrique by Descartes, 1637 (engraving); (add.info.: DESCARTES, Rene (1596-1650)

Rene Descartes (1596-1650) French philosopher and scientist, engraving
1747226 Rene Descartes (1596-1650) French philosopher and scientist, engraving; (add.info.: Rene Descartes (1596-1650) French philosopher and scientist, engraving); Photo: Tallandier

Illustration by Rene Descartes, showing how a spectrum is formed. From Epistolae; Amsterdam 1668
5311505 Illustration by Rene Descartes, showing how a spectrum is formed. From Epistolae; Amsterdam 1668; Universal History Archive/UIG

Portrait of Rene Descartes (1596-1650), French mathematician, philosopher
JEB4866512 Portrait of Rene Descartes (1596-1650), French mathematician, philosopher and physicist - Engraving published in the book "Les lettres de Madame de sevigne

Treatise on Man, work of 1633. Xylography
AIS5331519 Treatise on Man, work of 1633. Xylography.; Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France; Photo © JBP/AIC

Principia philosophiae. Principles of Philosophy. Title page. (print)
7419861 Principia philosophiae. Principles of Philosophy. Title page. (print); (add.info.: Title page of a 1692 edition of French philosopher Rene Descarte's Principia philosophiae or Principles)

Bust of Rene Descartes (1596-1650) French physicist and philosopher - Sculpture by Augustin Pajou (1730-1809)
JEB4945014 Bust of Rene Descartes (1596-1650) French physicist and philosopher - Sculpture by Augustin Pajou (1730-1809) - Galerie des Hommes illustres Chateau de Versailles; (add.info)

Portrait of Rene Descartes (1596-1650)
XEE5027328 Portrait of Rene Descartes (1596-1650); (add.info.: Portrait of Rene Descartes (1596-1650)); Stefano Bianchetti

Rene Descartes, 1840 (litho)
1574709 Rene Descartes, 1840 (litho); (add.info.: Rene Descartes (1596-1650) French mathematician and philosopher. Lithograph, Paris, c1840.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Illustration by Rene Descartes, showing the refraction of light. From Opera Philosophica; Frankfurt; 1692
5311507 Illustration by Rene Descartes, showing the refraction of light. From Opera Philosophica; Frankfurt; 1692; Universal History Archive/UIG

Portrait of René Descartes (1596-1650), 1647-1648. Creator: Frans Hals
Portrait of Rene Descartes (1596-1650), 1647-1648

René Descartes, 1650s. Creator: Jonas Suyderhoef
Rene Descartes, 1650s

Portrait of René Descartes (1596-1650), philosopher and scholar. Creator: Unknown
Portrait of Rene Descartes (1596-1650), philosopher and scholar

Descartes, n.d. Creator: Jean-Baptiste de Grateloup
Descartes, n.d

Descartes, n.d. Creator: Jean-Baptiste de Grateloup
Descartes, n.d

Descartes, n.d. Creator: Jean-Baptiste de Grateloup
Descartes, n.d

Descartes, n.d. Creator: Jean-Baptiste de Grateloup
Descartes, n.d

Portrait of the philosopher ReneDescartes (1596-1650). Creator: Anonymous
Portrait of the philosopher Rene Descartes (1596-1650). Found in the collection of Musee Carnavalet, Paris

Rene Descartes, French philosopher and mathematician, 1835. Nineteenth century engraving of Descartes (1596-1650) who is regarded as one of the great figures in the history of Western thought

Rene Descartes, french physicist, mathematician, philosopher. 1865 (engraving)
6947901 Rene Descartes, french physicist, mathematician, philosopher. 1865 (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Rene Descartes (1596-1650), french physicist

Rene Descartes (colour engraving)
1730978 Rene Descartes (colour engraving) by French School; (add.info.: Rene Descartes (1596-1660) french mathematician and philosopher, engraving)

The French army, religious unity and society during the reign of Louis XIV, 1661-1715 (colour litho)
5207745 The French army, religious unity and society during the reign of Louis XIV, 1661-1715 (colour litho) by Girard, Joseph (fl.1930-50); Private Collection; (add.info.: The French army)

Descartes defendant sa vie menacee par des bateliers hollandais (engraving)
7179205 Descartes defendant sa vie menacee par des bateliers hollandais (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Descartes Composing His World System, c. 1786-1792 (colour aquatint)
985865 Descartes Composing His World System, c.1786-1792 (colour aquatint) by Desfontaines, (fl.1800) (after); 32x22.5 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Descartes Composing His World System)

Title page of La Geometrie by Rene Descartes, 1664 (engraving & print)
477915 Title page of La Geometrie by ReneDescartes, 1664 (engraving & print) by French School, (17th century); 22.4x16.3 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Published by Charles Angot)

Rene Descartes in Amsterdam
3779258 Rene Descartes in Amsterdam by Phillipoteaux, Paul (1846-1923); (add.info.: Rene Descartes in Amsterdam. Descartes was a highly influential French philosopher, mathematician, scientist)

Des Cartes (engraving)
655836 Des Cartes (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Des Cartes. Illustration from The Gallery of Portraits (Charles Knight, 1836)

Page from Traite de l Homme, by Rene Descartes, 1664 (engraving)
1144500 Page from Traitede l Homme, by ReneDescartes, 1664 (engraving) by French School, (17th century); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France; (add.info.: Treatise of Man); French, out of copyright

Chocolat Poulain trade card, Rene Descartes (chromolitho)
964036 Chocolat Poulain trade card, Rene Descartes (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Chocolat Poulain trade card, with a portrait of Rene Descartes)

Rene Descartes
LLM459560 Rene Descartes by Armet Portanell, Jose (1843-1911); Private Collection; (add.info.: Rene Descartes. Illustration for La Ciencia Y Sus Hombres by Luis Figuier (D Jaime Seix, 1876)

Rene Descartes requesting the translation of the terms of a problem of geometry (engraving)
3098001 Rene Descartes requesting the translation of the terms of a problem of geometry (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Illustration from the Oeuvres de Descartes published by Victor Cousin
CHT163645 Illustration from the Oeuvres de Descartes published by Victor Cousin, Paris 1824 (engraving) (b/w photo) by French School, (19th century); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

Rene Descartes (coloured engraving)
2802264 Rene Descartes (coloured engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Rene Descartes)

Descartes at Amsterdam (engraving)
965807 Descartes at Amsterdam (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Descartes at Amsterdam)

Department of Indre et Loire in west central France (chromolitho)
724696 Department of Indre et Loire in west central France (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Department of Indre et Loire in west central France)

Maison ou Descartes est ne, a La Haye-Descartes, departement d Indre-et-Loire (engraving)
3644362 Maison ou Descartes est ne, a La Haye-Descartes, departement d Indre-et-Loire (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Maison ou Descartes est ne)

Title page of Les Principes de la Philosophie de Descartes (engraving)
1144497 Title page of Les Principes de la Philosophie de Descartes (engraving) by French School; Private Collection; French, out of copyright

Descartes in the army (chromolitho)
724727 Descartes in the army (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Descartes in the army. French philosopher, mathematician, and writer (1596-1650)

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Rene Descartes, a renowned French mathematician and philosopher, left an indelible mark on the world of science and philosophy. Born in La Haye, Touraine, France in 1596, Descartes' contributions to mathematics and philosophy continue to be studied and revered today. Descartes was not only a brilliant mathematician but also a profound thinker who sought to understand the nature of existence itself. His most famous quote "Cogito, ergo sum" or "I think, therefore I am" encapsulates his belief that human consciousness is the foundation of knowledge. During his lifetime, Descartes faced numerous challenges and controversies. In Amsterdam, he found himself defending his life against Dutch boatmen who threatened him. Despite these adversities, Descartes remained steadfast in his pursuit of truth. One of Descartes' notable works is "La Géométrie, " published in 1664. This groundbreaking book laid the foundations for modern analytic geometry and introduced Cartesian coordinates - a system still widely used today. Descartes' influence extended beyond academia; he also played a role in shaping society during the reign of Louis XIV. His ideas about religious unity resonated with many at the time as they sought stability amidst social upheaval. In this captivating engraving from c. 1786-1792 titled "Descartes Composing His World System, " we catch a glimpse into the mind of this great thinker as he contemplates the intricate workings of our universe. As we reflect on Rene Descartes' legacy centuries later, it becomes clear that his intellectual prowess continues to inspire generations after generations. From his revolutionary mathematical concepts to his philosophical musings on existence itself, Descartes remains an icon whose ideas transcend time.