Abraham Gottlob Werner's conflicting images: thoughts inspired by special exhibitions for his 250th anniversary

On 15 June 1999, an exhibition on Abraham Gottlob Werner opened at the "Mus eum der Geologischen Staatssammlung" in Munich. During the planning stage t he historical topic of the exhibition had to face considerable opposition, since Werner as the leading Neptunist was considered a negative figure in g eology. In response, the exhibition took this anachronistic image of Werner into account and sought to place him in his historical frame. The exhibiti on was entitled "Viel Larm um Steine, oder: Irren ist menschlich - Abraham Gottlob Werner zum 250. Geburtstag" (Much Ado about Rocks, or: to Err is Hu man - Abraham Gottlob Werner to his 250th anniversary); a title which Werne r devotees considered disrespectful. This article explores these contradict ory sides of Werner's present image and shows how they have developed From a Whiggish approach to history of science. An outline of the concept of the Werner exhibition in Munich shows how even popular texts can endeavour to find a middle way between anachronistic hubris and ancestor worship or hagi ography.