| RefNo | P/0107 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Portrait of Ramsden, Jesse |
| Artist | Home, Robert |
| Date | c.1772 |
| Description | Three quarter length, left profile portrait of Jesse Ramsden, seated by and before machinery. Seated in a red upholstered chair. Ramsden wears a black jacket trimmed with grey fur at the collar signifying service he did to the Emperor of Russia, Ramsden dislike the inclusion of this detail saying he had never worn such a garment. The jacket is worn over a white shirt and black knee-breeches, the tops of his grey stockings just visible. Ramsden holds callipers in his right hand and a metal straight-edge or ruler in his left. Behind is the astronomical circle of Palermo Observatory (telescope mounted on an azimuth circle); before the sitter is a dividing engine of Ramsden’s design. [Discussed in Jesse Ramsden (1735-1800) London’s leading scientific instrument maker, Anita McConnell (Aldershot, Ashgate, 2007), pp.39-51]. It is believed to be the only likeness taken of Jesse Ramsden in his lifetime. |
| ObjectName | Painting |
| Materials | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 1270 x 1003 mm |
| Notes | Robinson, Norman H and Forbes, Eric G 'The Royal Society catalogue of portraits' (London: Royal Society, 1980) |
| AccessStatus | Open |
| Copyright | The Royal Society |
| Provenance | Presented by Sir Everard Home FRS, 1850. The donation of this picture is noted in Council Minutes, reproducing a letter from Sir [James] Everard Home: “4 Queen Anne Street, June 14 1850. Sir, - I have the honour to offer for the acceptance of the Royal Society, to be suspended in the Meeting Room, two pictures, one of John Hunter, the other of Jesse Ramsden, optician, both of them painted by the late Robert Home, Esq…“ [Royal Society Minutes of Council, Printed CMP/2/56, 1846-1858, p.158, meeting of 20 June 1850, with further detals of the work given in Council minutes in CMP/2/57]. |
| RelatedRecord | IM/003738 |
| CMP/2/56 |
| CMP/2/57 |
| MC/4/352 |
| Copies | Colour transparency, Box N101. IM/003738 |
| Thumbnail | 
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Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA6963 | Ramsden; Jesse (1735 - 1800) | 1735 - 1800 |