Abstract

Emblematic imagery was prevalent in scientific books in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, with symbolism appearing in frontispieces, illustrated title pages, and other images. Images, mottoes, and poems were used to help elucidate concepts, connections, and hidden meanings, as well as to provide a preview of the contents of the book. Although the French mathematician and philosopher Émilie du Châtelet, a significant figure in the Enlightenment, lived in the eighteenth century, emblematic imagery can be seen in her works, as well as in the works of others connected to her. In this article, we will give a brief biography of Émilie du Châtelet before delving into an analysis of examples of mathematical and philosophical imagery in original sources authored by Émilie du Châtelet and her colleagues, including the French philosopher and author Voltaire and the Italian polymath and philosopher Francesco Algarotti.