Portret van Jean-Baptiste de la Quintinie 1776 - 1824

Johann Christian Ernst Müller produced this print of Jean-Baptiste de la Quintinie, likely in the late 18th or early 19th century. The image is a portrait of Jean de la Quintinie, a noted French agronomist and gardener for Louis XIV. The very fact of its existence speaks to the cultural status of the man, but what I find interesting is the date in which the print was made. Müller created this well after de la Quintinie's death. By this time, European society was experiencing profound social and political change, including new ideas about science, reason, and individual achievement. How was de la Quintinie being reimagined for a new era? Was he a symbol of the old regime, or a model for a new kind of scientific expert? Exploring these questions requires that we consult a wide range of sources: the history of science, the cultural impact of the French Revolution, and the changing role of experts in modern society.