Justus von Liebig and eight others seated in a committee. Gouache drawing.

In the background, a library, maps, astronomic charts etc. The choice of wall-charts include a map of central and south America, the study of which in 1799-1805 brought fame to Alexander von Humboldt. Another wall-chart shows the course of the planets, a subject also studied by Humboldt. Consequently, Dr Klaus Judel has suggested (18 August 2003) that the present picture might be a celebration of Humboldt's birthday, possibly in 1856 or 1857. Dr Judel identifies on the right Robert Bunsen (1811-1899), professor of chemistry and physics at Heidelberg