Beached whale, 16th-century illustration. This is a large toothed whale, such as a sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). The local population have congregated to examine the body, with some hacking flesh from the carcass or harvesting oil. The whale's penis is being studied at centre. The scene is described in the text across bottom. This 1598 artwork is by Netherlandish artist Jacob Matham (1571-1631).