Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9260
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Caricature of Silvanus Phillips Thompson and Frederick Guthrie
Date
1870s
Sitter
Silvanus Phillips Thompson (1851 - 1916, British) , Physicist
Frederick Guthrie (1833 - 1886, British) , Physicist
Frederick Guthrie (1833 - 1886, British) , Physicist
Creator
Silvanus Phillips Thompson (1851 - 1916, British) , Physicist
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (drawing): 130mm
width (drawing): 200mm
width (drawing): 200mm
Subject
Description
Sketch contrasting a self-portrait by S P Thompson relaxing on a beach at Douglas, Isle of Man and Frederick Guthrie, lecturing to students. Thompson is seated on an extravagant rocking chair, smoking and smelling a flower, with a discarded book [Ouida – presumably a reference to Under Two Flags (1867)]. Guthrie is shown at a lecture theatre bench, before a Bunsen burner and other equipment, with his nose to a grindstone.
Drawing is inscribed: 'Look on this picture! And on this!'
Thompson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1891 and Guthrie in 1871.
Drawing is inscribed: 'Look on this picture! And on this!'
Thompson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1891 and Guthrie in 1871.
Object history
Discovered (with its associated letter) inside a copy of the 1920 biography of Thompson by Jane S Thompson and Helen G Thompson, purchased by H Jack Haden at Foyle's Bookshop, London in 1955. The book was inscribed 'Blanche Guthrie, 184A Ladbroke Grove W10.' [Royal Society Miscellaneous Manuscripts, MM/22/81 H. Jack Haden-S.J.Cox, 26 June 2000, 1p].
Associated place