Karel Evangelista Purkyně was a fascinating scientist with enormous scope of interest and a very strong ability to think outside the prevailing norms. I wonder what a person like him could do with modern lab equipment.

An anecdote: on his deathbed, he dictated his actual feelings, so that other people would know how the process of dying feels like from the inside. Truly a remarkable and curious mind.

Edit: Jan, Karel was his painting son.