Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9282
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Portrait of William Spottiswoode
Date
1884
Sitter
William Spottiswoode (1825 - 1883, British) , Mathematician
Creator
John Collier (1850 - 1934, British) , Painter
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 914mm
width (painting): 711mm
width (painting): 711mm
Subject
Description
In this posthumous portrait, Spottiswoode is painted at half-length turned and looking towards his right in an upright posture, with receding hair and a full beard. He wears a black coat and waistcoat, with a black tie over a white shirt.
William Spottiswoode was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1853, he served as its President from 1878 to 1883.
William Spottiswoode was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1853, he served as its President from 1878 to 1883.
Transcription
John Collier 1884
WILLIAM SPOTTISWOODE, Pres.R.S. By HON. JOHN COLLIER
WILLIAM SPOTTISWOODE, Pres.R.S. By HON. JOHN COLLIER
Object history
Presented by subscribers, ca.1883-1885.
The Society’s archives contain the minutes of a meeting intended to establish a William Spottiswoode Memorial, 7 December 1883, chaired by Thomas Henry Huxley. The group’s third resolution was to form a committee: “with power to add to their number, for the purpose of procuring a portrait or a bust of the late William Spottiswoode for presentation to the Royal Society.” [Royal Society Miscellaneous Manuscripts, MM/11/43].
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 Society’s archives contain the minutes of a meeting intended to establish a William Spottiswoode Memorial, 7 December 1883, chaired by Thomas Henry Huxley. The group’s third resolution was to form a committee: “with power to add to their number, for the purpose of procuring a portrait or a bust of the late William Spottiswoode for presentation to the Royal Society.” [Royal Society Miscellaneous Manuscripts, MM/11/43].
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