Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9346
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Portrait of John Flamsteed
Date
1712
Sitter
John Flamsteed (1646 - 1719, British) , Astronomer
Creator
Thomas Gibson (1680 - 1751, British) , Painter
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 1245mm
width (painting): 1016mm
width (painting): 1016mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Three-quarter length painting of Flamsteed, seated on a high-backed green upholstered chair, with a covered table on his left. He wears a black robe with white, squared collar. The sitter holds his right hand to his chest; the left rests on a brown leather-bound volume of his own stellar observations [eventually published posthumously as Atlas Coelestis, 1729] on the tabletop. An architectural pillar is visible behind.
John Flamsteed was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1677.
John Flamsteed was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1677.
Transcription
T: Gibson fecit 1712
ATLAS [?] COELESTIS AB ANNO 1671 AD. 1712.
National Portait Gallery Exhibition 1866 No. on owner’s list ‘4’ Portrait of ‘John Flamsteed’ Lent by ‘The Royal Society’
497
ATLAS [?] COELESTIS AB ANNO 1671 AD. 1712.
National Portait Gallery Exhibition 1866 No. on owner’s list ‘4’ Portrait of ‘John Flamsteed’ Lent by ‘The Royal Society’
497
Object history
Presented by John Belchier, 1772.
Recorded in the Society’s Journal Book as presented: “A half length portrait of Professor Flamsteed given by Mr, Belchier fellow of this Society.“ [Royal Society Journal Book Original JBO/27 pp.622-623 minute of meeting of 7 May 1772]. This information repeated in the Society’s list of presents for the period. [Royal Society manuscript “A list of objects presented to the Royal Society Museum, 1744-1779” Manuscripts (General) MS/419].
Recorded in the Society’s Journal Book as presented: “A half length portrait of Professor Flamsteed given by Mr, Belchier fellow of this Society.“ [Royal Society Journal Book Original JBO/27 pp.622-623 minute of meeting of 7 May 1772]. This information repeated in the Society’s list of presents for the period. [Royal Society manuscript “A list of objects presented to the Royal Society Museum, 1744-1779” Manuscripts (General) MS/419].
Associated place