Portret van Antoine Portal 1825 - 1867

Alphonse Boilly made this print of Antoine Portal, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. It offers us a glimpse into the world of French science and medicine, just after the Revolution. Notice how Portal is presented within an oval frame, a visual quote from classical portraiture. But this isn't just about aesthetics; it speaks to the changing status of scientists like Portal. The inscription tells us he was a member of the Institut, a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, and the King's First Physician, and indicates the shifting social and political landscape where intellectual achievement began to rival aristocratic birthright. The Legion of Honour was created by Napoleon Bonaparte, so the image stakes a clear claim to his success. To truly understand this print, we might look at the records of the Institut, study the history of medicine in France, and explore the visual culture of the period. The image provides insight into the institutions of science and the politics of representation in post-revolutionary France.