Portret van Leonhart Fuchs 1816 - 1833

Pierre Roch Vigneron made this print of Leonhart Fuchs, sometime between the late 18th and early 19th century. Look at the details of Fuchs’s clothing. The fur-lined coat and the hat would have immediately signaled his status as a respected academic. But, who was he? Fuchs was a 16th century German physician and botanist, best known for his publications about herbal medicine. Vigneron made this print centuries later, and the image reflects how the scientific community of his time looked back to the earlier period. The portrait idealizes Fuchs, presenting him as a figure of wisdom and authority, befitting his historical importance. Understanding this image involves more than just admiring its aesthetic qualities. It requires understanding the scientific institutions that shaped the field of medicine, as well as the social values influencing what kind of person gets to be remembered as historically important. Examining archival documents of medical societies and publications about botany will teach you more about it.