Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9287
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Portrait of James Prescott Joule
Date
1882
Sitter
James Prescott Joule (1818 - 1889, British) , Physicist
Creator
John Collier (1850 - 1934, British) , Painter
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 762mm
width (painting): 635mm
width (painting): 635mm
Subject
Description
Joule is portrayed at sixty-four years of age, at half-length, facing the viewer, smiling slightly. He has grey hair, thinning, and a full grey beard. He wears a black coat and waistcoat with a white shirt collar mostly hidden by beard.
James Prescott Joule was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1850.
James Prescott Joule was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1850.
Transcription
John Collier 1882
JAMES PRESCOTT JOULE F.R.S. (1818-1889) by THE HON JOHN COLLIER
Joule
JAMES PRESCOTT JOULE F.R.S. (1818-1889) by THE HON JOHN COLLIER
Joule
Object history
Presented by subscribers, 1883.
The donation is noted very briefly in Council Minutes at the meeting of 19 April 1883: “The portrait of Dr. Joule, presented by certain Fellows of the Society, was formally accepted.” [Royal Society Council Minutes, Printed, 1878-1884, vol.5 p.377].
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 donation is noted very briefly in Council Minutes at the meeting of 19 April 1883: “The portrait of Dr. Joule, presented by certain Fellows of the Society, was formally accepted.” [Royal Society Council Minutes, Printed, 1878-1884, vol.5 p.377].
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