Record

Reference numberP
LevelFonds
TitlePortraits
Date16th - 21st century
DescriptionA collection of works of art principally depicting Fellows, Foreign Members and other scientists. The first portraits were presented to the Royal Society in the 1680s, since which time the collection has expanded, largely by donation. Since 1941, the Society has commissioned likenesses of each President at the end of the five-year term of office, providing the only regular additions to the collection. The work of a variety of important artists and their schools is represented, including Peter Lely (1618-1680), Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723), William Hogarth (1697-1764), Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792) and Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830). Several portraits are of scientists who predate the formation of the Royal Society and there are several canvasses of some Fellows, such as Newton, Boyle and Flamsteed.
ArrangementP/0001-P/0146 arranged alphabetically, as per NH Robinson's Catalogue of Portraits (1980)
P/0147+ arranged chronologically on accession date
Access statusOpen
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    Collection highlights

    Browse the records of some of our collections, which cover all branches of science and date from the 12th century onwards. These include the published works of Fellows of the Royal Society, personal papers of eminent scientists, letters and manuscripts sent to the Society or presented at meetings, and administrative records documenting the Society's activities since our foundation in 1660.

    The Royal Society

    The Royal Society is a Fellowship of many of
    the world's most eminent scientists and is the
    oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.
    Registered charity number 207043

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