Rhazes (Arabic Medicine cycle)

What it is

This painting by the Portuguese artist Veloso Salgado, made around 1906, is part of his 'Arabic Medicine' cycle created for the Lisbon medical faculty. It shows a bearded man in a white turban and robe holding an open scroll, standing before a columned background.

Why it matters

Early 20th-century European medical schools often decorated their halls with paintings honoring the history of medicine, and this cycle placed Rhazes among the figures considered foundational to the field. It shows how, even in modern Europe, his contributions to medicine were still being celebrated centuries after his death.

Look closer

• Why might a modern medical school choose to commission paintings of historical physicians like Rhazes?
• What does the scroll in his hands suggest about how the artist wanted him to be seen?
• How does this painting compare to other, older images of Rhazes you have seen?