Caricature of William Crookes
Date
1903
Sitter
William Crookes (1832 - 1919, British) , Knight Chemist, Chemist
Creator
Sir Leslie Matthew Ward (1851 - 1922, British) , Artist
Creator - Organisation
Vincent Brooks, Day & Son, Lithographer
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (print): 280mm
width (print): 265mm
width (print): 265mm
Subject
Description
Caricature of William Crookes at full length holding a glass piece of equipment, likely a radiometer.
Inscribed in the bottom left corner of the print: ‘Spy’
Inscribed above: ‘VANITY FAIR May 21st 1903’
Inscribed below: ‘Vincent Brooks, Day & Son Ltd. Lith./ “ubi Crookes ibi lux”’
This caricature is titled ‘Ubi Crookes ibi lux’ and was number 879 of the ‘Men of the Day’ series published in Vanity Fair between 1868-1913.
The associated text begins: 'BORN, full of scientific imagination, one-and-seventy years ago, he is now fuller than ever of it, his steps in Science having been sometimes really inspired. He began life inquiringly; and at sizteen, after damaging much of the paternal furniture by acids and explosions, he was an active student in the Royal College of Chemistry; since when he has done so much to advance the science of chemistry and physics that he needs non supporter. He invented the Radiometer; he discovered Thallium and Radiant matter generally; he evolved the Genesis of Elements, and founded The Chemical News. He is a past President of all our best scientific societies, and he has published many practical works on many applied sciences; so that he has earned many prizes and medals both at home and abroad [...]'
Sir William Crookes (1832-1919), Knight chemist, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1863 and served as its President between 1913-1915.
Sir Leslie Matthew Ward (1851-1922), British artist who did much of his work under the pseudonym ‘Spy’ and served as a caricaturist for Vanity Fair.
Inscribed in the bottom left corner of the print: ‘Spy’
Inscribed above: ‘VANITY FAIR May 21st 1903’
Inscribed below: ‘Vincent Brooks, Day & Son Ltd. Lith./ “ubi Crookes ibi lux”’
This caricature is titled ‘Ubi Crookes ibi lux’ and was number 879 of the ‘Men of the Day’ series published in Vanity Fair between 1868-1913.
The associated text begins: 'BORN, full of scientific imagination, one-and-seventy years ago, he is now fuller than ever of it, his steps in Science having been sometimes really inspired. He began life inquiringly; and at sizteen, after damaging much of the paternal furniture by acids and explosions, he was an active student in the Royal College of Chemistry; since when he has done so much to advance the science of chemistry and physics that he needs non supporter. He invented the Radiometer; he discovered Thallium and Radiant matter generally; he evolved the Genesis of Elements, and founded The Chemical News. He is a past President of all our best scientific societies, and he has published many practical works on many applied sciences; so that he has earned many prizes and medals both at home and abroad [...]'
Sir William Crookes (1832-1919), Knight chemist, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1863 and served as its President between 1913-1915.
Sir Leslie Matthew Ward (1851-1922), British artist who did much of his work under the pseudonym ‘Spy’ and served as a caricaturist for Vanity Fair.
Object history
Vanity Fair’s ‘Men of the Day’ series, which featured a full page, colour caricature of a significant public figure and text commentary, largely written by "Jehu Junior", was a popular feature that ran between 1868 and 1913.
This print was donated to the Royal Society by former President Charles Scott Sherrington (1857–1952), as part of a bound volume featuring caricatures, photographs and signature facsimiles of the individuals.
This print was donated to the Royal Society by former President Charles Scott Sherrington (1857–1952), as part of a bound volume featuring caricatures, photographs and signature facsimiles of the individuals.
Associated place