‘Soirée at the Royal Society’
Date
1870
Sitter
William Allen Miller (1817 - 1870, British) , Chemist
Edward Sabine (1788 - 1883, Irish) , Army officer
John Henry Lefroy (1817 - 1890, British) , Army officer
Warren de la Rue (1815 - 2012) , Chemist
Roderick Impey Murchison (1792 - 1871, Scottish) , Geologist
Edward Ryan (1793 - 1875) , Judge
William Hutcheon Hall (1792 - 1878) , Naval officer
John Peter Gassiot (1797 - 1877, British) , Science writer
Robert Willis (1800 - 1875, British) , Engineer
John Theophilus Boileau (1805 - 1886, British) , Army officer
William Robert Grove (1791 - 1867, British) , Natural philosopher
Edward Sabine (1788 - 1883, Irish) , Army officer
John Henry Lefroy (1817 - 1890, British) , Army officer
Warren de la Rue (1815 - 2012) , Chemist
Roderick Impey Murchison (1792 - 1871, Scottish) , Geologist
Edward Ryan (1793 - 1875) , Judge
William Hutcheon Hall (1792 - 1878) , Naval officer
John Peter Gassiot (1797 - 1877, British) , Science writer
Robert Willis (1800 - 1875, British) , Engineer
John Theophilus Boileau (1805 - 1886, British) , Army officer
William Robert Grove (1791 - 1867, British) , Natural philosopher
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (print): 249mm
width (print): 232mm
width (print): 232mm
Subject
Description
Interior scene showing guests being received at the Royal Society conversazione, or soirée, at Burlington House, London, on 27 April 1870. The company includes the Society’s President, Edward Sabine, shaking hands with John Henry Lefroy; and in the foreground, Sir Francis Grant extending his hand to greet Robert Willis, who is similarly poised.
With a key to the participants printed below: left to right: ‘Dr. Miller. Walter White, Esq., Librarian. Lieut.-Gen. Sabine, Pres. R.S. Col. Lefroy. George Grote Esq. Sir Francis Grant. Warren de la Rue Esq., Sir R. Murchison. Sir E. Ryan. Rear Admiral Hall. Professor Gassiot. Prof. Willis. Maj.-Gen. J. T. Boileau F.R.S. W. R. Grove, Esq., Q.C.’
Cutting from The Graphic, 30 April 1870, p.508. Captioned below: ‘SOIREE AT THE ROYAL SOCIETY.’
The accompanying article notes that: ‘These reunions take stock of the most recent discoveries and achievements of science, and introduce them to the world. To many of our readers no very definite impression may be conveyed by the announcements which appear in the papers every now and then of soirees given by the Society, but every one interested in the progress of science very highly appreciates the privilege of attending these gatherings…’
William Allen Miller (1817-1870), British chemist, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1845.
Walter White (1811-1893) British Librarian and writer.
Sir Edward Sabine (1788-1883) British Army officer and physicist, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1818. He served as President of the Royal Society in the years 1861-1871.
Sir John Henry Lefroy (1817-1890) British Army officer and meteorologist, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1848.
George Grote (1794-1871) British historian and politician, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1857.
Sir Francis Grant (1803-1878) British portrait and sporting painter. President of the Royal Academy.
Warren de la Rue (1815-1889) British chemist and astronomer, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1850.
Sir Roderick Impey Murchison (1792-1871) British geologist and geographer, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1826.
Sir Edward Ryan (1793-1875) British judge in India and civil service commissioner, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1860.
Sir William Hutcheon Hall (c.1797-1878) British naval officer, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1847.
John Peter Gassiot (1797-1877) British scientific writer, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1840.
Robert Willis (1800-1875) British engineer and architectural historian, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1830.
John Theophilus Boileau (1805-1886) India-born British Army engineer, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1840.
Sir William Robert Grove (1811-1896) British natural philosopher and judge, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1840.
With a key to the participants printed below: left to right: ‘Dr. Miller. Walter White, Esq., Librarian. Lieut.-Gen. Sabine, Pres. R.S. Col. Lefroy. George Grote Esq. Sir Francis Grant. Warren de la Rue Esq., Sir R. Murchison. Sir E. Ryan. Rear Admiral Hall. Professor Gassiot. Prof. Willis. Maj.-Gen. J. T. Boileau F.R.S. W. R. Grove, Esq., Q.C.’
Cutting from The Graphic, 30 April 1870, p.508. Captioned below: ‘SOIREE AT THE ROYAL SOCIETY.’
The accompanying article notes that: ‘These reunions take stock of the most recent discoveries and achievements of science, and introduce them to the world. To many of our readers no very definite impression may be conveyed by the announcements which appear in the papers every now and then of soirees given by the Society, but every one interested in the progress of science very highly appreciates the privilege of attending these gatherings…’
William Allen Miller (1817-1870), British chemist, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1845.
Walter White (1811-1893) British Librarian and writer.
Sir Edward Sabine (1788-1883) British Army officer and physicist, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1818. He served as President of the Royal Society in the years 1861-1871.
Sir John Henry Lefroy (1817-1890) British Army officer and meteorologist, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1848.
George Grote (1794-1871) British historian and politician, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1857.
Sir Francis Grant (1803-1878) British portrait and sporting painter. President of the Royal Academy.
Warren de la Rue (1815-1889) British chemist and astronomer, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1850.
Sir Roderick Impey Murchison (1792-1871) British geologist and geographer, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1826.
Sir Edward Ryan (1793-1875) British judge in India and civil service commissioner, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1860.
Sir William Hutcheon Hall (c.1797-1878) British naval officer, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1847.
John Peter Gassiot (1797-1877) British scientific writer, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1840.
Robert Willis (1800-1875) British engineer and architectural historian, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1830.
John Theophilus Boileau (1805-1886) India-born British Army engineer, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1840.
Sir William Robert Grove (1811-1896) British natural philosopher and judge, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1840.
Object history
Purchased by the Royal Society.
Associated place