Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9350
Looking for a special gift? Buy a print of this image.
Portrait of Vincenzo Viviani
Date
1690s
Sitter
Vincenzo Viviani (1622 - 1703, Italian) , Mathematician
Creator
Pietro Dandini (1646 - 1712, Italian) , Painter
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 978mm
width (painting): 756mm
width (painting): 756mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Viviani is painted at half-length, seated, before a table upon which there is a brass armillary sphere, pen and wooden inkwell, with a sheaf of drawings. His left hand grips the wooden arm of the chair, while the right rests on the sphere, holding brass dividers. He is dressed in a loose green gown, trimmed with brown fur at the collar and cuffs. He wears a white shirt held at the throat with a gold and jewelled clasp. Two volumes lie flat at his right side: the spines are inscribed; “De Maximis et Minimis Geometrica Divinitatio”; and “De Locis solidis altero Divinat...”, both works by Viviani. Behind and to the extreme right of the picture is the suggestion of a glass vase on a cabinet.
Vincenzo Viviani was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1696.
Vincenzo Viviani was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1696.
Transcription
VINCENZIO VIVIANI, F.R.S. by PIERO DANDINI
Vincenzio Viviani originale di Pietro Dandini no.4 copied from back of original canvas
Vincenzio Viviani originale di Pietro Dandini no.4 copied from back of original canvas
Object history
Presented by Dr Wilson of Florence, 1883 (donated with the Society’s portrait of G W Leibniz).
The presentation is noted in Council Minutes: “ Dr Wilson, of the Palazzo Piccolini, Florence, having offered, in an interview with the Assistant Secretary, to present to the Society a portrait of Leibnitz and of Viviani, it was – Resolved, – That Dr. Wilson’s valuable offer of the two portraits be cordially accepted...“ [Royal Society Council Minutes, Printed, vol.5 1878-1884, p.400, meeting of 25 October 1883].
The presentation is noted in Council Minutes: “ Dr Wilson, of the Palazzo Piccolini, Florence, having offered, in an interview with the Assistant Secretary, to present to the Society a portrait of Leibnitz and of Viviani, it was – Resolved, – That Dr. Wilson’s valuable offer of the two portraits be cordially accepted...“ [Royal Society Council Minutes, Printed, vol.5 1878-1884, p.400, meeting of 25 October 1883].
Associated place