Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9269
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Portrait of Michael Foster
Date
ca. 1908
Sitter
Sir Michael Foster (1836 - 1907, British) , Physiologist
Creator
John Collier (1850 - 1934, British) , Painter
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 609mm
width (painting): 508mm
width (painting): 508mm
Subject
Description
Head and shoulders study of Foster, the head and line of sight angled to the viewer’s left. Foster has a white beard, apparently slightly yellowed, and white hair parted at his left. He is shown in a black jacket with a white shirt and red tie. This is a copy detail, by Collier, of his larger 1907 portrait in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Michael Foster was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1872.
Michael Foster was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1872.
Transcription
John Collier
SIR MICHAEL FOSTER (1836-1907) SECRETARY 1881-1903. By THE HON. JOHN COLLIER (REPLICA)
SIR MICHAEL FOSTER (1836-1907) SECRETARY 1881-1903. By THE HON. JOHN COLLIER (REPLICA)
Object history
Presented by subscribers, 1908 [?]. The existence of a Michael Foster portrait fund is noted in Council Minutes, but no date of composition or donation. The approximate date may be inferred from Collier’s original.
The artist John Collier was the son-in-law of Thomas Henry Huxley, whom he painted. Collier was thus able to paint the scientific elite of the late 19th century especially of the Darwin-Huxley circle. In addition to Huxley, the Society has portraits by Collier of: William Kingdon Clifford, Michael Foster, Joseph Dalton Hooker, William Huggins, James Prescott Joule and William Spottiswoode with one painting of Charles Darwin after Collier’s original.
The artist John Collier was the son-in-law of Thomas Henry Huxley, whom he painted. Collier was thus able to paint the scientific elite of the late 19th century especially of the Darwin-Huxley circle. In addition to Huxley, the Society has portraits by Collier of: William Kingdon Clifford, Michael Foster, Joseph Dalton Hooker, William Huggins, James Prescott Joule and William Spottiswoode with one painting of Charles Darwin after Collier’s original.
Associated place