JOHANN CASPAR LAVATER
PHYSIOGNOMIC FRAGMENTS, 4 VOLUMES, LEIPZIG AND WINTERTHUR , 1775-1778
SCIENTIFIC CREED
The doctrine of physiognomy assumes that the character of a person can be deduced from their facial features. Lavater viewed this theory as a science based on the measurements and proportions of the skull, face and its "measurable" parts (nose, chin, ears and eyes).
Lavater's four volumes contain numerous portraits of famous men who each represent a certain character. He interprets the individual face ultimately as a sign of God which had to be dicovered. In doing so, he relied on semiotics, the doctrine of signs that allows internal characteristics to be inferred from external forms.
This is based on the deeply religious core idea that God created man in his own image. In Lavater's eyes, therefore, the resemblance to Jesus became the absolute standard of judgement, which is why he understood his physiognomy as the "disclosure of the good that is in God." With this, Lavater elevated his theory to a creed.