The selection of images on these pages creates a pictorial representation of the lives of our subjects, illustrating how they dressed, and how, where and when they lived. The selected images also draw connections between these early modern women philosophers and their male counterparts; many of them hint at the intellectual foment of this period.
Unless otherwise noted, the images below are in the public domain. You can find more detailed information regarding our image sourcing methodology and permissions process on the Methods page.
d’Aragona
Astell
![Lady Anne Coventry, attributed to Godfrey Kneller, c. 1691](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2017/03/Lady-Anne-Somerset/4221157123.jpg)
Portrait of Lady Anne Somerset, Viscountness Deerhurst, Later Countess of Coventry
Kneller, Godfrey; Lady Anne Somerset (1673-1763), Viscountness Deerhurst, Later Countess of Coventry (?); National Trust, Antony; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/lady-anne-somerset-16731763-viscountness-deerhurst-later-countess-of-coventry-99061
![](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2017/08/Lady-Mary-Somerset-Duchess-of-Ormonde_0/3380909887.jpg)
Portrait of Lady Mary Somerset, Duchess of Ormond, by Michael Dahl
Oil painting on canvas, Lady Mary Somerset, Duchess of Ormonde (1665-1733) by Michael Dahl (Stockholm 1656/9 ¿ London 1743), 1690s. Three-quarter-length portrait, of a young woman, seated, full front, her head three-quarters left. She is wearing a deep brown-gold dress, blue lined and is holding a rose in her right hand. A bottle green curtain is to the right and an arcade in the left background.
![London circa 1688 at the time Astell moved there](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2017/10/1024px-17th_century_map_of_London_W_Hollar/3300176271.jpg)
17th Century Map of London
17th century map of London, originally started by W.Hollar, student of German engraver Mattheus Merian. Published in the Netherlands. Judging by the double portrait at the top, the map was published after the accession to the English throne by William III and Mary Stuart. The map was composed by the famous designer and engraver from Prague Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677). He adopted, and excelled in, a style best suited to chorography or delineation of cities. He received instructions from Mattheus Merian (1593-1650) in Frankfurt and was active in several European towns. From 1652 until his death Hollar lived and worked in London
Cavendish
![Boyle's air pump, New Experiments Physico-Mechanical, 1660 Oxford.](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/12/Boyle_Experiments_1660_Oxford_Air_Pump_CHF/956475784.jpg)
Boyle's air pump, New Experiments Physico-Mechanical, 1660 Oxford
Boyle, Robert, 1660. New experiments physico-mechanicall: touching the spring of the air, and its effects (made, for the most part, in a new pneumatical engine) / written by way of letter to the right honorable Charles Lord Vicount of Dungarvan, eldest son to the Earl of Corke. Oxford: H. Hall, printer to the University, for T. Robinson.
![Cavendish family circle by Peeter Clouwet, 1656.](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/12/Cavendish_family_NPGD28777/1327027024.jpg)
Cavendish family circle by Peeter Clouwet, 1656
William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and his family in Antwerp by Peeter Clouwet, after Abraham Diepenbeeck
Line engraving, published 1656
10 5/8 in. x 6 1/2 in. (270 mm x 165 mm) paper size
Given by the daughter of compiler William Fleming MD, Mary Elizabeth Stopford (née Fleming), 1931
Reference Collection
NPG D28777
![](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/12/Of_aire_poem_Pvox/3070445918.jpg)
Cavendish's "Of Aire" poem, 1653 London
Source of poem: Cavendish, Margaret. 1653. Poems, and fancies written by the Right Honourable, the Lady Margaret Newcastle. London: Printed by T.R. for J. Martin, and J. Allestrye, 1653.
Source library: The Huntington Library, San Marino, CA, USA.
![](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/12/Cavendish_signature_collage_Pvox/454184849.jpeg)
Cavendish's signature, collage, 2016
Graphic design by Olivia Branscum, Project Vox, 2016. Source link: http://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/briefwisselingconstantijnhuygens/brieven?zk_correspondentid=896
![](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/12/Hooke_Micrographia_1655_London_Flea_CHF/829862741.jpg)
Flea schema from Micrographia, 1665 London
Hooke, Robert. 1665. Micrographia: or, Some physiological descriptions of minute bodies made by magnifying glasses. With observations and inquiries thereupon / by R. Hooke ... London: Printed by J. Martyn and J. Allestry.
Schema 34 - "Of flea."
Record link: http://othmerlib.chemheritage.org/record=b1045122~S3
![Grounds of Natural Philosophy, London 1668.](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/12/Cavendish_Grounds_1668_London_TPFP_CHF/351973246.jpg)
Grounds of Natural Philosophy, London 1668
Cavendish, Margaret. 1668. Grounds of natural philosophy : divided into thirteen parts: with an appendix containing five parts / written by the thrice noble, illustrious, and excellent princess, the Duchess of Newcastle. London: A. Maxwell, 1668.
Source library: The Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Library of Chemical History, Chemical Heritage Foundation, Philadelphia, USA.
Record link: http://othmerlib.chemheritage.org/record=b1034754~S6
![Henry More by William Faithorne, etching and line engraving, published 1675](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/12/More_Henry_NPGD22866/3809304894.jpg)
Henry More by William Faithorne, 1675
National Portrait Gallery, London, United Kingdom
Henry More by William Faithorne.
Etching and line engraving, published 1675.
12 1/8 in. x 7 1/8 in. (309 mm x 181 mm) paper size.
Given by the daughter of compiler William Fleming MD, Mary Elizabeth Stopford (née Fleming), 1931.
Reference Collection.
NPG D22866
![John Evelyn by Robert Walker, 1648](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/12/Evelyn_John_NPG6179/757706210.jpg)
John Evelyn by Robert Walker, 1648
National Portrait Gallery, London
John Evelyn by Robert Walker
oil on canvas, 1648
34 5/8 in. x 25 1/4 in. (879 mm x 641 mm)
Purchased with help from the Art Fund, the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Dame Helen Gardner Bequest, 1992
Primary Collection
NPG 6179
![Joseph Glanvill by William Faithorne, line engraving, published 1681](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/12/Glanvill_Joseph_NPGD22746/1359189134.jpg)
Joseph Glanvill by William Faithorne, 1681
National Portrait Gallery, London, United Kingdom
Joseph Glanvill (Glanville) by William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1681
7 7/16 in. x 5 3/8 in. (189 mm x 136 mm) paper size
Given by the daughter of compiler William Fleming MD, Mary Elizabeth Stopford (née Fleming), 1931
Reference Collection
NPG D22746
![Sir Kenelm Digby by Sir Anthony Van Dyck, oil on canvas, circa 1640](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/12/Digby_Kenelm_NPG486/3576605138.jpg)
Kenelm Digby by Sir Anthony van Dyck, c. 1640
National Portrait Gallery, London
Sir Kenelm Digby by Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, circa 1640
46 1/8 in. x 36 1/8 in. (1172 mm x 917 mm)
Purchased, 1877
Primary Collection
NPG 486
![Margaret and William Cavendish, by Gonzales Coques, 1662.](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/12/Cavendish_Coques_Staatliche_Museen_Berlin/3118223450.jpg)
Margaret and William Cavendish, by Gonzales Coques, 1662
See Cavendish section 1.2, Portraits, for more information.
![Margaret Cavendish by Pieter Louis van Schuppen, c. 1655-1658](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/12/Cavendish_Minerva_NPGD11111/2945554239.jpg)
Margaret Cavendish by Pieter Louis van Schuppen, c. 1655-1658
National Portrait Gallery, London, United Kingdom
Margaret Cavendish (née Lucas), Duchess of Newcastle upon Tyne by Pieter Louis van Schuppen, after Abraham Diepenbeeck
Line engraving, circa 1655-1658
14 5/8 in. x 8 3/4 in. (371 mm x 222 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D11111
See Cavendish section 1.2, Portraits, for more information.
![](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/12/Descartes_Meditations_1641_Paris_TP_Gallica/1728951820.jpg)
Meditationes de Prima Philosophia, 1641 Paris
Record link: http://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb30328465x
![](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/12/Cavendish_Observations_Blazing_World_1668_London_TP_CHF/1529783287.jpg)
Observations Upon Experimental Philosophy & The Blazing World, 1668 London, 2nd ed.
Record link: http://othmerlib.chemheritage.org/record=b1040875~S3
![](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/12/Cavendish_Philosophical_Letters_1664_London_TP_CHF/1527081782.jpg)
Philosophical Letters, 1664 London
Record link: http://othmerlib.chemheritage.org/record=b1034755~S3
For more details on the printing of this work, see Cameron Kroetsch's research, footnote 23: http://www.digitalcavendish.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Kroetsch2013.pdf
Conway
![Henry More by William Faithorne, etching and line engraving, published 1675](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/12/More_Henry_NPGD22866/3932743771.jpg)
Henry More by William Faithorne, 1675
National Portrait Gallery, London, United Kingdom
Henry More by William Faithorne.
Etching and line engraving, published 1675.
12 1/8 in. x 7 1/8 in. (309 mm x 181 mm) paper size.
Given by the daughter of compiler William Fleming MD, Mary Elizabeth Stopford (née Fleming), 1931.
Reference Collection.
NPG D22866
Du Châtelet
![](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2017/08/cirey_0/2605902565.jpg)
The Cirey "académie"
Vue du château de Cirey suivant comme il doit être quand il sera fini 1742 huile sur panneau de bois,
![](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2017/08/Voltaire_Philosophy_of_Newton_frontispiece-1/1446108246.jpg)
Frontispiece to Voltaire's Elémens de la Philosophie de Neuton
The frontispiece to Voltaire's Elémens de la Philosophie de Neuton (published in Amsterdam in 1738) depicts Du Châtelet holding a mirror to reflect the light from Newton down to the author Voltaire, thus contributing to her reputation as an expositor of Newton rather than as a philosophe. This image was not included in other editions published this same year.
Princess Elisabeth
![](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2018/10/PE22_portrait_penn_place_historical-society-pennsylvania_w-1698_t-1677/2325557601.jpg)
William Penn portrait, by Francis Place, undated
Description: Pastel portrait of William Penn by Francis Place, believed to be the only surviving portrait of Penn, drawn from life.
Citation: T
![](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2020/04/PE_43_Descartes_la_Princesse_Élisabeth_et_Foucher_de_Careil/171778945.jpeg)
Letters between Princess Elisabeth and Descartes
The French philosopher Alexandre Foucher de Careil publishes Descartes, la Princesse Elisabeth, et la Reine Christine, d’après des lettres inédites, which contains the previously missing letters from Elisabeth to Descartes. The letters were discovered in an archive near Arnheim, the Netherlands.
Floresta
Sor Juana
Masham
![](https://projectvox.org/wp-content/uploads/cache/2016/12/Locke_John_plaque_ERO/1966832599.jpg)
John Locke's grave plaque, High Laver, Essex, United Kingdom
Text of the plaque in English:
Traveler, halt!
Near here is buried
JOHN LOCKE.
If you inquire about him, he replies that he
was content with his middling station. He was educated
to the extent that you may learn from his writings
how he worshipped truth alone; they [his writings]
will reveal to you everything else about him more faithfully
than the suspect eulogy of an epitaph: his virtues (if he had any)
altogether too small for him to offer them to you as
deserving of praise, as something to imitate; [and] as for his
faults, let them be buried with him. If you should seek an example of
morals, you have it in the Gospels; if you should wish an example of
vice, may you not seek it at all!; if you should wish an example of
mortality (may it profit you!), it is here and everywhere.
He was born Aug. 29, A. D. 1632.
He died Oct. 28, A. D. 1704.
The tablet that commemorates these events will soon perish as well.
Translated by Francis Newton, Duke University Classics Department, 2016.