Record

Reference numberVF/22
Alternative reference numberVF22
LevelItem
TitlePortrait of James Ludovic Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford, by Sir Leslie Ward
ArtistWard, Leslie ['Spy']
Vincent Brooks Day & Son
Date11 May 1878
DescriptionVanity Fair cartoon titled 'Astronomy' featuring James Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford, in evening dress holding a lit cigarette. Three-quarter length, slightly left profile. Number 273 of the 'Statesmen' series.
InscriptionContentRecto inscription: 'VANITY FAIR May 11 1878/ Vincent Brooks, Day & Son. Lith./ “Astronomy”’
CaptionStatesmen. No. 273
Lord Lindsay, M.P.
The Lindsays have been a fine fighting Scotch family ever since Sir David unhorsed Lord Welles on London Bridge. They fought for the Stuarts, they have fought for the House of Brunswick, and the head of the house is now the twenty-fifth Earl of Crawford, and the possessor of a splendid property and great revenues. James Ludovic, Lord Lindsay, the eldest son and future twenty-sixth Earl, has, oddly enough, turned out a man of science. Born only one-and-thirty years ago, and educated at Eton, there was no reason why he should have been anything else than an idle man. But although he went into the Guards, he had somehow acquired a taste for astronomy, and set himself to work with so much zeal and ability that he is now one of the recognised English astronomers having authority even in his own country, [sic] He observed the transit of Venus, he has quite recently observed the transit of Mercury, and there is no reason to believe that he has ever regretted having left Mars to men of other mould. He is quiet, calm, unobtrusive, and amiable; he has a certain taste for art, but he probably only esteems it as a degraded branch of science; and in politics nothing is known of him, except that he has succeeded his uncle as Member for Wigan.
FormatLithograph
Physical descriptionColoured lithograph on paper
Dimensions380mm x 263mm
NotesText is accompanying article from "Vanity Fair" (by Jehu Junior?)
Access statusOpen
ProvenancePurchased by the Royal Society from Patrick Pollak Antiquarian & Rare Books, September 1999
Related materialColour transparency, Box N101. IM/002761
Related records in the catalogueIM/002761
Fellows associated with this archive
CodeNameDates
NA6482Lindsay; James Ludovic (1847 - 1913); 26th Earl of Crawford and 9th Earl of Balcarres; astronomer1847 - 1913
Add to My Items

    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

    Website design ©CalmView



    CONTACT US

    + 44 207 451 2500
    (Lines open Mon-Fri, 9:00-17:00. Excludes bank holidays)

    6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG

    Email Us →

    SUBSCRIBE

    Subscribe to our newsletters to be updated with the
    latest news on innovation, events, articles and reports.

    Subscribe →

    © CalmView