The Scientific Vision of Women

Born in San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina, Dr. Fernandez de Tuero received her Ph.D. from the School of Design and Arts, National University of Tucumán in 1939. Juana joined the Miguel Lillo Institute (now Foundation) in 1939 and rose quickly to head of the Department of Iconography. She worked on many projects, including Genera et Species Plantarum Argentinarum (seen here) that was illustrated by a team of female scientific illustrators. Juana left in 1946 due to political disagreements but returned in 1972 to work again with the scientists on other publications including Flora de Tucumán.

Along with other illustrators from the Institute, Juana exhibited botanical work at the 3rd International Exhibition of Botanical Art and Illustration at the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Most of the illustrations for Species Plantarum were created by a group of “silent workers,” women whose regular schedule was weekdays 9-1 and 4-7 and Saturdays 9-1. The women drew primarily in India ink and watercolor, examples of which can be seen here and above. The group also travelled alongside botanists across the country to look at specimens in their native habitats.

The idea of creating Genera et Species Plantarum Argentinarum was discussed at the Institute in the late nineteenth century and earnest research began as early as 1935. The goal was to create a published work of all the native plants of Argentina. Seven elephant folio text volumes with black and white and colored illustrations were published between 1943 and 1956. (See similar project that took place in China in the entry about Tai-li Zhang.)

 Label by Meg Brown