Home > Arts > Artists > K > Athanasius Kircher
1655 Athanasius Kircher colour portrait
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Science Photo Library
1655 Athanasius Kircher colour portrait
Athanasius Kircher, Jesuit scholar 1602-1680. Coloured portrait copper engraving of the author from Mundus Subterraneus (1664). Kircher worked and published across a remarkable range of fields, and won worldwide fame as a scholar even in his own lifetime. His great museum of naturalia in Rome was unrivalled. In Mundus Subterraneus he considered fossils, volcanoes and the earths geologic structure, as well as everything from dragons to giants. He believed fossils could be mineralised organic remains, but that also many simply formed inside stones due to an active plastic spirit that gave shape to things. He was also one of the first people to observe microbes through a microscope and propose that plague (Yersinia pestis) was caused by infectious microorganisms in the blood. This insight made him among the first to suggest sensible measures to counter the spread of the dread disease
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6346039
© PAUL D STEWART/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
17th Century Cabinet Colour Early Fossil Geologist Gesner Jesuit Kircher Museum Pathogens Plague Renaissance Rome Volcanoes Athanasius Curiosities Dragons Mundus Wunderkammer Yersinia
FEATURES IN THESE COLLECTIONS
> Arts
> Artists
> K
> Athanasius Kircher
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the vibrant and detailed colour portrait of Athanasius Kircher, a renowned Jesuit scholar from the 17th century. Kircher's intellectual prowess spanned an impressive range of disciplines, earning him worldwide fame during his lifetime. The copper engraving, extracted from his seminal work Mundus Subterraneus (1664), captures the essence of this multifaceted individual. Kircher's contributions to various fields were groundbreaking. His extensive research on fossils, volcanoes, and the Earth's geologic structure demonstrated his insatiable curiosity about the natural world. In addition to these geological wonders, he delved into topics as diverse as dragons and giants. Notably ahead of his time, Kircher was among the first individuals to observe microbes through a microscope. He astutely proposed that infectious microorganisms in blood caused plague (Yersinia pestis), paving the way for practical measures against its spread. The photograph also alludes to Kircher's great museum of naturalia in Rome – a treasure trove unrivalled by any other collection at that time. Within its walls resided countless curiosities that fascinated visitors from around the globe. Paul D. Stewart expertly captures both the artistry and historical significance of this piece with meticulous attention to detail. This print serves as a testament to Athanasius Kircher's enduring legacy as an influential figure in Renaissance science and scholarship.
MADE IN THE UK
Safe Shipping with 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
FREE PERSONALISATION*
We are proud to offer a range of customisation features including Personalised Captions, Color Filters and Picture Zoom Tools
SECURE PAYMENTS
We happily accept a wide range of payment options so you can pay for the things you need in the way that is most convenient for you
* Options may vary by product and licensing agreement. Zoomed Pictures can be adjusted in the Basket.
