The Linnaeus Museum – Linnaeus' home in the Linnaeus Garden
The Linnaeus Museum resides in the former residence of the Director of Uppsala University’s botanical garden, the present Linnaeus Garden. This is where Carl Linnaeus and his family lived during the latter half of the 18th century. The museum houses a collection of furniture, objects, and pantings that tell the story of Linnaeus’ life as a scientist and family man.
At home with Linnaeus
At Linnaeus’ appointment as professor of medicine and botany 1741, the house was in such poor condition that he refused to move in with his young wife and baby son. The house, originally erected by Olof Rudbeck the younger in 1693 was, according to Linnaeus, “more like a robbers’ den or an owls’ nest” and was completely rebuilt before he could move in 1743. The house was a residence for university staff until 1935. The last person to live there was composer Hugo Alfvén.
Scientific work and family life
Carl Linnaeus became famous in his lifetime. His descendants saved many family objects. The Swedish Linnaeus Society, founded in 1917, has spent a good century building the collection that is the foundation of the Linnaeus Museum. The collection provides an unique insight to Carl Linnaeus’ scientific work and an 18th century professor’s family life.
The museum contains unique items which tell of Linnaeus’ home life and his scientific achievements. They include the family’s furniture, household effects, textiles and art; as well as more personal items such as Mrs Linnaeus’ playing cards, spectacles and cookbooks.
Carl Linnaeus’ scientific objects
In the museum, there are objects from Carl Linnaeus’ travels, his tenure as professor, and his scientific work. The large portrait of Linnaeus wearing a Saami costume painted by Martin Hoffman 1737 demonstrates how he wished to present himself as a well-travelled scientist in his early career. Here, you can se the secretaire where he wrote and one of the herbarium cabinets where he arranged dried plants according to his groundbreaking sexual system. The orangery thermometer is the oldest preserved example of the Celsius-scale. There is also an apothecary chest from Linnaeus’ work as a physician.
Household textiles and crockery
Crockery, textiles and furniture tell us how important home and family was to Linnaeus’ professional life. Linnaeus’ richly embroidered waistcoat and the blossoming silk wedding gown of his daughter reveal the family’s social status. Mrs Linnaeus’ well kept linen with tablecloths and napkins of fine Dutch and German linen damast were used for representation in their home. Here, you find the Chinese tea set with Linnaeus’ favourite flower, Linnaea borealis, and the silver collection with many gifts from grateful friends and students. Especially famous is the silver bowl supposedly used by Linnaeus for the large amount of wild strawberries he consumed to soothe his gout pains.
Self-presentation through art
The museum has a portrait of Carl Linnaeus wearing a powdered wig and a frilled shirt. It is a pastel, the most popular technique of the 18th century after oil, executed by Gustav Lundberg 1753. Lundberg was one of the most sought after portrait artists in Sweden at the time and would not have painted Linnaeus if he had not been considered one ot the most prominent scientists of his time.
Uppsala University Art Collections are curators of the collection of furnitures, art, textiles, and other objects in the Linnaeus Museum. The Swedish Linnaeus Society founded the museum, which is now managed by The Linnaean Gardens of Uppsala University.