The Charms of Dresden

This chapter covers Carus’ life course in Dresden from 1814 to the end of his life in 1869. Two major periods—1814–1827 and 1827–1869—can be specified in this life course. In the first period, he was Professor of Obstetrics and director of the training of midwives—a new framework of trained professionals in Germany at the time. In 1827, Carus was promoted to the role of Royal Medical Doctor that involved medical care of the Saxon Royal Court and its international visitors. Different friendships with other painters—Caspar David Friedrich and Johann Christian Dahl—were relevant for Carus. Carus was also influenced by the geognostic natural philosophy of Abraham Gottlob Werner who was the initiator of geology for Germany and together with other painters encoded it into his mountain pictures. Dresden became Carus’ lifelong home.