Michel Eugene Chevreul.

Title

Michel Eugene Chevreul.

Description

View of the french chemist Michel Eugene Chevreul in his laboratory in researching. Michel Eugène Chevreul (1786 – 1889) was a French chemist whose work with fatty acids led to early applications in the fields of art and science. He is credited with the discovery of margaric acid, creatine, and designing an early form of soap made from animal fats and salt. He lived to 102 and was a pioneer in the field of gerontology. He is also one of the 72 people whose names are inscribed on the Eiffel Tower. Chevreul's scientific work covered a wide range, but he is best known for the classical researches he carried out on animal fats, published in 1823. His research on the ;magic pendulum;, Dowsing rods and table-turning is revolutionary. In the end Chevreul discovered that once a person holding divining rods/magic pendulum became aware of the brain's reaction, the movements stopped and could not be willingly reproduced. His was one of the earliest explanations of the ideomotor effect. Chevreul was also influential in the world of art. After being named director of the dye works at the Gobelins Manufactory in Paris, he received many complaints about the dyes being used there. In particular, the blacks appeared different when used next to blues. He determined that the yarn's perceived color was influenced by other surrounding yarns. This led to a concept known as simultaneous contrast. Yet the color principle subsequently had a great influence on advanced art in Europe.Shortly befor his death at the age of 102, Chevreul began to study the effects of aging on the human body.

ca. 1890

Artist

Huyot