Overview
That Carl Gustav Carus became a dedicated painter and an important representative of the Dresden School in the early 19th century might sound surprising given his early passion and devotion to science and medicine. While he studied chemistry, medicine, and botany at the University of Leipzig, he also incorporated drawing lessons into his schedule and taught himself painting. When he was twenty-two years old, he had already earned two doctoral degrees.
In 1813, Carus was put in charge of the provisional military hospital in Pfaffendorf during the Battle of Leipzig. Two years later, he worked as a professor in gynecology at the Royal Academy of Surgery and Medicine in Dresden; shortly thereafter he met Caspar David Friedrich, who would have an important influence on Carus at this time.
Carus also became the personal physician of King Anthon of Saxony, who reigned from 1827-1839. His contact and travels with later Saxon Princes introduced him to many of the great intellectuals of the period and their novel ideas influenced Carus, especially in his artwork.
While Carus initially sought to achieve an almost mystical Romanticism in his painting, supported by his relationship with Friedrich, he eventually moved away from this philosophy and focused more on creating greater objectivity and naturalism, perhaps seen more through the lens of a scientist than an artist.