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Portrait of William Crookes

Date

1911

Sitter

William Crookes (1832 - 1919, British) , Knight Chemist, Chemist

Creator

Edward Arthur Walton (1860 - 1922, British) , Painter

Object type

portrait
painting

Archive reference number

P/0028

Material

oil
canvas

Dimensions

height (framed canvas): 1210mm
width (framed canvas): 960mm

Subject

Chemistry

Content object

scientific environment & equipment
> instrument

Description

Williams Crookes is posed seated in a high-backed chair, half-length, holding what may be an early form of cathode ray tube in his left hand. The subject is shown half-face. Behind, in a freely painted backdrop to the main subject, are a diamond-vane radiometer upper right and a bookcase in the lower left of the painting. Crookes bearded and dressed formally, dark suit and wing collar, with a watch chain visible at the waistcoat.

Sir William was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1863, he served as its President from 1913-1915.

Transcription

SIR WILLIAM CROOKES, O.M., F.R.S BY E.A.WATSON
SIR JAMES BURROW PRESIDENT 1768 AND 1772 (FOR SHORT PERIODS) BY JEAN BAPTISTE VANLOO
meeting room grd.
R. Society July 4 88 Frame 1
Sir J. Burrow
vaulted corridor gnd.
...ced picture liners A...n Dott & Son May 1842 26 So Castle St. Edinburgh

Own make
Royal Society - Burlington House Walton Memorial Exhibition Crookes (?) 4th December 1928

No. 567/3

Object history

Under ‘Benefactions received…1911’, the Society’s Yearbook briefly noted “Portrait of Sir W. Crookes, O.M., For.Sec.R.S. From a Committee of Subscribers.” [Yearbook of the Royal Society of London. 1912. (Royal Society, London, 1912) p.190. ]

Associated place

<The World>
> Europe
> United Kingdom

Credit

Image number

RS.9243