Credit: The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.4344

    Portrait of John Ray

    Date
    1804
    Sitter
    John Ray (1627 - 1705, English) , Naturalist
    Creator
    William Holl (1771 - 1838, British) , Engraver
    After
    Mary Beale (1633 - 1699, English) , Painter
    Thomas Unwins (1782 - 1857, British) , Draughtsman
    Object type
    Image reference
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 125mm
    width (print): 100mm
    Subject
    Description
    Head and shoulders portrait of John Ray within an oval frame. He is shown in a loose ecclesiastical robe and is turned slightly to his right. The frame is surmounted by flowering branches. Below the portrait, an illustration of the allegorical figure of Britannia crowning a bust of Ray can be seen.

    Inscribed below portrait: ‘The Revd JOHN RAY, A.M. F.R.S. / Author of Historia Plantarum.’ Inscribed on Britannia’s scroll: ‘The wisdom / of God in / the works / of Creation / Symopsis / methodica / stirpium / Britanni / carum’

    Inscribed below: ‘Unwins del’ ‘Britannia crowning Ray as the Prince of English Botanists’ ‘Holl sculp.’ ‘NB. This Picture is in the British Museum.’ ‘Mrs Beale pinx.’ ‘Holl sculpt.’ ‘London, Published for Dr. Thornton, Augt 1. 1804.’

    John Ray (1627-1705), English naturalist, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1667.
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