Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9265
Looking for a special gift? Buy a print of this image.
Portrait of Francis Aston
Date
17th century
Sitter
Francis Aston (1644 - 1715, British) , Natural philosopher
Creator
Friedrich Kerseboom (1632 - 1693, German) , Painter
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 740mm
width (painting): 650mm
height (framed canvas): 890
width (framed canvas): 775
width (painting): 650mm
height (framed canvas): 890
width (framed canvas): 775
Subject
Description
Head and shoulders portrait, within a painted oval, body turned to the left, head half-turned to face the viewer. Aston is shown with wig with long brown hair, wearing a red coat with white neck-cloth.
Francis Aston was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1678. He served as Secretary of the Royal Society from 1681-1685.
Francis Aston was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1678. He served as Secretary of the Royal Society from 1681-1685.
Transcription
D.FRANSISCUS ASTON ARMICI REG. SOC. A SECRETARIS & BENEFACTOR EXIMIUS
FRANCIS ASTON (1644-1715) SECRETARY, 1681-5 by F.KERSEBOOM
Francis Aston
FRANCIS ASTON (1644-1715) SECRETARY, 1681-5 by F.KERSEBOOM
Francis Aston
Object history
Aston’s portrait was not included in the manuscript catalogue of the Society’s repository holdings, MS/416, which lists works up to that date. Later lists of portraits, for example the Society’s Record (1901) note the picture as being within the Society’s care, but neither donor nor date of acquisition are given. The painting was in the Society’s possession by 1768. [“A list of original pictures at the Royal Society House. Communicated by a Connoisseur’, Gentleman’s Magazine, vol. 38 (1768), pp. 62-3.]
Associated place