The topic of “unveiling the truth” became emblematic for the scientification of culture.
Emblematic of the scientification of culture during the late 18th century may be Charles-Nicolas Cochin's
frontispiece of Diderot's and D'Alembert's monumental illustrated
Encyclopaedia, which was published from 1751 onwards. Female personifications of philosophy, the sciences and arts, especially reason and metaphysics, are unveiling the truth who is stepping forward from her circular temple. The Augustinian Canons of Polling in Upper Bavaria copied this iconography for the decoration of the new library hall, which at that time, was the largest and most qualitative in the whole country.