"Linnaeus was in reality a poet who happened to become a naturalist."

The writer August Strindberg was referring to Carl Linnaeus, the 18th century Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist. Though Linnaeus is best known today for his practical system of categorizing plants and animals, he was a prolific researcher, explorer, and teacher. He catalogued thousands of plants, and though I haven't heard him described as an artist, images of his work suggest he was not only competent at sketching, but that he was creative and took pleasure in drawing.

This is a link to a page from his book Praeludia Sponsaliorum Plantarum ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Linn%C3%A9-Praeludia_Sponsaliorum_Plantarum.jpg ). How I'd like to see one of his original works, to turn the pages, feel the paper, see what he saw!