Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.9276
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    Portrait of William Huggins

    Date
    1905
    Sitter
    Sir William Huggins (1824 - 1910, British) , Astronomer
    Creator
    John Collier (1850 - 1934, British) , Painter
    Object type
    Archive reference number
    Material
    Dimensions
    height (painting): 915mm
    width (painting): 712mm
    Subject
    Content object
    Description
    William Huggins is painted half-length, seated in the Royal Society Presidential chair, red leather surmounted by the coat-of-arms and motto “Nullius in verba”. His right hand is visible on the armrest. Huggins has full white hair and is bearded. A watch-chain and seal shows at his waistcoat. He wears a black suit, white shirt and red tie.

    Sir William Huggins was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1865, he served as its President from 1900 to 1905.
    Transcription
    SIR WILLIAM HUGGINS K.C.B.: O.M.: P.R.S. AETAT 81
    SIR WILLIAM HUGGINS, K.C.B., Pres.R.S. by Hon. J. COLLIER
    Bot. of Richard Turley carver and gilder, looking glass and picture frame maker. 21 Crogsland Road, Kentish Town, N.W. Old works regilt equal to new. Pictures cleaned, lined and varnished. Mounts cut and drawings mounted
    Object history
    Presented by subscribers, 1905.

    The donation is noted in the Society’s Council Minutes: “Read a letter from the Treasurers of the Huggins Portrait Fund notifying that it is intended to offer to the Society on behalf of the subscribers a portrait of the President, Sir William Huggins, painted by the Hon. John Collier...it is proposed to formally present to the Society at the Anniversary Meeting...” [Royal Society Minutes of Council, Printed CMP/9, 1903-1908, 30 November 1905, p.212].
    Associated place
    <The World>
       > Europe
          > United Kingdom
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