Portret van Carolus Clusius 1820 - 1828

Ambroise Tardieu created this portrait of Carolus Clusius as an engraving. Clusius was a Flemish botanist and physician of the 16th century, a time when the disciplines of science and medicine were deeply intertwined. Tardieu's 19th-century depiction of Clusius highlights the botanist's status, framing him within the visual language of scientific authority and social position. The ruffled collar and formal attire speak to Clusius's place within the academic and social hierarchy of his time. In that era, access to education and scientific pursuits were largely confined to the privileged. As such, Clusius's identity as a botanist was inevitably shaped by the dynamics of class. The portrait also subtly touches on cultural exchange. Clusius’s work involved the introduction of new plants to Europe, which raises complex issues of globalization, access, and the politics of knowledge. Tardieu’s engraving invites us to consider how the narratives of science are always interwoven with the stories of identity, power, and cultural exchange.