Two Irishmen are to feature in a new exhibition at London's National Portrait Gallery entitled, "Defining Features: scientific and medical portraits 1660-2000".
The exhibition includes portraits of historic and modern scientists and examines the art and technique of portraiture. It also explores the representation of scientific heroes (notably Edward Jenner, who pioneered the smallpox vaccine in 1796), and women in science.
The exhibits range from mugs and biscuits to medals, portraits and busts.
The Irishmen featured are the 17th century faith healer, Valentine Greatrakes from Waterford, and Dublin-born Dionysis Lardner. Greatrakes (1629-1683) was reputedly able to cure diseases with a stroke of his hand, a skill which brought him to scientific attention in England in 1666.
Lardner (1793-1859) was an erudite scientific philosopher who lectured at University College London. He was perhaps somewhat less famous than his playwright son, Dion Boucicault, but Lardner was also known for having devoted 20 years to producing a 133-volume popular encyclopaedia.
The exhibition runs until September 17th. An accompanying book, Defining Features, by Ludmilla Jordonova is published by Reaktion (£15 sterling, 190 pages).