Joseph Lister in his 30s
Studio portrait, 1865
This portrait shows Joseph Lister (1827-1912) in about 1865, at
a time when he was immersed in treating the compound fracture cases
at Glasgow Infirmary that had stimulated his experiments with
antisepsis.
This is a studio portrait, taken of a coming man who was beginning
to require such an image for professional purposes, such as calling
cards. He is dressed soberly in black frock coat and trousers,
befitting a Quaker of modest tastes, though sporting a rather
exaggerated cravat. The long side whiskers and clean-shaven mouth
remained his hallmark into old age.