Portret van Gerard van Spaendonck 1827

Nicolas Henri Jacob made this print of Gerard van Spaendonck, a professor of iconography at the Museum of Natural History, sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. The portrait presents Spaendonck as a learned man and member of the Institut de France, suggested by his formal attire, powdered wig, and the insignia he wears. But what does it mean to be a professor of iconography at a natural history museum? Well, in post-revolutionary France, science, education, and art were seen as tools for national progress and civic virtue. Museums like the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle aimed to educate the public and advance scientific knowledge. Spaendonck’s role would have been to accurately depict plants and animals for scientific study, but also to create aesthetically pleasing images that could inspire awe and appreciation for the natural world. Understanding the social and institutional context helps us appreciate how this image, like all art, embodies the values and priorities of its time. To learn more, you might consult museum archives, scientific publications, and biographical studies of Spaendonck and his contemporaries.