Portraits of an illustrious life

The life of the French scientist Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) —who was a chemist, bacteriologist, microbiologist, oenologist, and physician — was filled with revolutionary contributions that changed the knowledge of his time in many areas. He not only contributed new ideas and helped refute incorrect ones but also used science to solve concrete problems that affected people's health and industries. 

Pasteurization, which made food safer for consumption and extended its shelf life, along with vaccines against diseases in animals and humans that saved millions of lives, are just part of his legacy. Aware of the importance of scientific progress, a few years before his death he founded the Institut Pasteur in Paris, which was tasked with 'the study of virulent and contagious diseases' and the development of vaccines. Furthermore, motivated by the idea that 'science knows no country because knowledge belongs to humanity,' his project expanded to other countries, creating a global network of institutes that continues to this day.

On the 200th anniversary of his birth, the Institut Pasteur in Montevideo — one of the 32 members of the global network — pays tribute to the scientist and his legacy through a series of illustrations created by Alfonso Rosso, which highlight key milestones in Louis Pasteur's prolific life. These can be found on this page and are part of a traveling exhibition developed by the Institut Pasteur in Montevideo, aimed at raising public awareness.

The milestones of his scientist's life are presented here as front-page news of the fictional magazine 'The Pasteurian,' inspired by the significance of Pasteur's contributions in his time, which often made headlines.

We invite you to explore the seven covers of 'The Pasteurian' to learn more about the legacy of Louis Pasteur.