This work reconstructs the intellectual and professional trajectory of Domingos Vandelli, who played a fundamental role at the University of Coimbra, directed the Royal Cabinet of Natural History and the Ajuda Botanical Garden, and was among the founding members of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Lisbon. Through the collection of scattered information from documents and fragments of sources, Lucas Braga sought to rediscover, as far as the documentation allowed, the man behind the naturalist: the young man who left his homeland in pursuit of the dream of accomplishing something greater; the scholar who, even though he was not a disciple of Linnaeus, became his most prominent correspondent; the professor who trained numerous naturalists who worked for the court, exploring the various Portuguese domains and their secrets; the man who chose Portugal as his home, where he started a family and raised his three children.

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Undoubtedly, when we hear the name Vandelli, there is a clear association with the image of the great naturalist he undoubtedly was—but not only that. The reader holds in their hands the opportunity to discover not only Vandelli's professional trajectory but also the numerous circumstances that led him to make certain decisions and adopt specific strategies in an environment where he earned respect and recognition, despite later efforts to erase his legacy.

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Structured in three chapters that cover different stages of Vandelli’s life, this work follows his education in the Italian Peninsula, his role as a professor, his direction of scientific institutions, and his membership in the Royal Academy of Sciences of Lisbon.

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