Portraying Science – Scientist Portraits Book

Where Art Meets the History of Science

Why not merge beauty and science? For centuries, the greatest artists captured the faces of the greatest minds. Portraying Science brings together over 400 pages of these portraits: oil paintings, tempera works, studio photographs, and engraved portraits of the scientists who built our understanding of the universe.

Scientists Featured

This chronological collection spans mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology, and botany, featuring portraits of:

• Mathematics: Leonhard Euler, Carl Friedrich Gauss, Blaise Pascal, Pierre de Fermat, Bernhard Riemann, Joseph Fourier, Joseph-Louis Lagrange, John Napier, Adrien-Marie Legendre
• Physics: Isaac Newton, Ludwig Boltzmann, Evangelista Torricelli, Alessandro Volta, Andre-Marie Ampere, Emilie du Chatelet
• Astronomy: Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, Edmond Halley, Caroline Herschel, Maria Mitchell
• Natural Sciences: Charles Darwin, Gregor Mendel, Alexander von Humboldt, Carl Linnaeus, Ernst Haeckel
• Chemistry: Dmitri Mendeleev, Antoine Lavoisier, Robert Boyle, Amedeo Avogadro
• Pioneers: Ada Lovelace, Mary Somerville, Laura Bassi, Louis Pasteur, James Cook
• And many more across all scientific disciplines

A Book for Your Table and Your Mind

Unlike standard biographies, Portraying Science lets the artwork speak. Each portrait comes with context about the scientist and the artistic medium, creating a visual journey through four centuries of scientific achievement. The compact 20 x 15 cm format makes it a substantial yet displayable book.

Artistic Media Included

• Oil on canvas portraits
• Tempera paintings
• Studio photographs
• Engraved portraits and illustrations
• Various artistic styles spanning four centuries

Perfect For

• Coffee table book collectors who want substance with beauty
• Science teachers and professors decorating offices or looking for teaching inspiration
• Art lovers interested in the intersection of portraiture and scientific history
• Gift buyers seeking an original present for scientists, historians, or art enthusiasts
• Academic libraries and museum shops

Frequently Asked Questions

How many scientists are featured in this book?

The book features dozens of scientists across six disciplines (mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology, and botany) from the 16th to the 19th century. Featured figures include Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Carl Friedrich Gauss, Leonhard Euler, Galileo Galilei, Marie Curie, Alexander von Humboldt, Ada Lovelace, and many more.

Is this just a picture book or does it include text?

Each portrait is accompanied by context about the scientist and information about the artistic medium (oil painting, engraving, photograph, etc.). It is a visual journey through science history that works as both an art book and an educational reference.

What is the book size?

The book measures 20 x 15 cm, a compact coffee table format that is substantial enough for display while fitting comfortably on a shelf. It contains over 400 pages.

Does it include women scientists?

Yes. The book features portraits of women pioneers in science including Ada Lovelace, Mary Somerville, Caroline Herschel, Laura Bassi, Maria Mitchell, and Emilie du Chatelet, among others.

Specifications

• Format: 20 x 15 cm
• Pages: 400+
• Content: Scientist portraits arranged chronologically (16th-19th century)
• Disciplines: Mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology, botany
• Media: Oil paintings, tempera, photographs, engravings
• Publisher: Kronecker Wallis, Barcelona