Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.19807

    ‘The Royal Society annual conversazione’

    Date
    1889
    Sitter
    John Evans (1823 - 1908, British) , Archaeologist
    Sir Michael Foster (1836 - 1907, British) , Physiologist
    George Gabriel Stokes (1819 - 1903, British) , Physicist
    Archibald Campbell Tait (1811 - 1882, British)
    Creator
    Richard Taylor (British) , Engraver
    Thomas Walter Wilson (1851, British) , Illustrator
    Object type
    Archive reference number
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 404mm
    width (print): 286mm
    Subject
    Description
    Group of illustrations showing guests and exhibits at the Royal Society’s conversazione, or soirée, at Burlington House, London, on the evening of 8 May 1889. The initial group of reception figures features the Royal Society’s Treasurer, Sir John Evans, shaking hands with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Edward White Benson. The Society’s President, Sir George Gabriel Stokes, faces between these two, with the Secretary, Michael Foster, facing to the left as viewed.

    The series of group portraits and vignettes is listed as follows: 1. Reception by President and Officers in the Principal Library. 2. The “Tainter” graphophone…3. The Amorphophallus Campanulatus…4 and 5. Wreaths and plant-remains from the cemetery of Hawara, Egypt…6. Wreath composed of flowers of Gnaphallium Luteo-album…

    Full page illustration from the Illustrated London News, 18 May 1889, p.617. Captioned below: ‘THE ROYAL SOCIETY ANNUAL CONVERSAZIONE AT BURLINGTON HOUSE: EXHIBITION OF SCIENTIFIC NOVELTIES.’

    The accompanying article (p.618) describes guests and selected exhibits in greater detail.

    Sir John Evans (1823-1908) British archaeologist, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1864. He served as Vice-President and Treasurer of the Royal Society.
    Sir Michael Foster (1836-1907) British physiologist, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1872. He served as Secretary to the Royal Society.
    Sir George Gabriel Stokes (1819-1903) British physicist, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1851. He served as President from 1885 to 1890.
    Archibald Campbell Tait (1811-1882) British, Archbishop of Canterbury.
    Object history
    Purchased by the Royal Society.
    Associated place
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