Portret van Caspar Bauhin 1816 - 1833

Pierre Roch Vigneron made this print of Caspar Bauhin sometime in the 19th century. Bauhin was a Swiss botanist who lived from 1560 to 1624. He taught anatomy and botany, and was personal physician to the Count of Württemberg. Prints like this one played a significant role in how knowledge was spread and how reputations were made in the early modern period. Consider the way that Bauhin is depicted: the hat, beard, and ruff signal his status as an educated and important man. The chain might suggest that he was a member of a particular order or society. Vigneron, who made this print in France, was working within a tradition of portraiture that was well-established across Europe. Looking at images like this, we might ask: How did someone like Bauhin become famous? How did the institutions of science and medicine operate in his time? To answer these questions, we need to consult historical sources, such as letters, books, and records.