Portret van Jean-Nicolas Corvisart c. 1837 - 1840

This is N.M. Schild's portrait of Jean-Nicolas Corvisart, currently held in the Rijksmuseum collection. Corvisart lived through one of Europe's most tumultuous periods, straddling the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era. His identity as a physician was deeply intertwined with the social and political upheavals of his time. The portrait itself, with its formal composition and focus on Corvisart's composed visage, reflects the values of the Enlightenment: reason, order, and the importance of individual achievement. Yet, it also hints at the changing dynamics of power and status. Corvisart's rise to prominence as Napoleon's personal physician reflects the era's emphasis on meritocracy, where talent and skill could elevate individuals regardless of their social origins. Reflecting on this portrait, consider how identity is not just personal, but shaped by the tides of history.