Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9615
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Portrait of an unknown gentleman
Date
18th century
Creator
James Ferguson (1710 - 1776, British) , Natural philosopher
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (drawing): 60mm
width (drawing): 45mm
width (drawing): 45mm
Subject
Description
Head and shoulders portrait of a gentleman, his body turned to the viewer’s right. The sitter is shown in a wig, wearing a light coat over an embroidered waistcoat and neck-cloth.
James Ferguson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1763.
James Ferguson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1763.
Transcription
Miniature portrait, in Indian ink on vellum, drawn by James Ferguson F.R.S., 1710-1776, the astronomer, subject not known. Presented by E.F.Croft Murray of the British Museum on 1 December 1948.
Object history
Presented by Edward Croft- Murray, 1 December 1948.
James Ferguson was taught by William Baird to make his living from limning (portraits in Indian ink), from 1733. [Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, eds. H.C.G.Matthew and Brian Harrison (Oxford 2004), volume 19, pp.355-357].
The donation was noted in the Society’s Council Minutes: “Reported the gift by Mr E.F.Croft-Murray of a miniature in Indian ink on vellum by J.Ferguson (F.R.S. 1763) and that the identity of the subject was unknown”. [Royal Society Minutes of Council, Printed, vol.18 1948-1953 p.5, minute 24 for the meeting of 16 December 1948]. Croft-Murray was Keeper, Department of Prints and Drawings, British Museum, 1954-1972. [“Edward Croft-Murray CBE (1907-1980)”, Who was Who 1971-1980, vol. 7 (A.&C. Black, London, 1981), p.185].
James Ferguson was taught by William Baird to make his living from limning (portraits in Indian ink), from 1733. [Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, eds. H.C.G.Matthew and Brian Harrison (Oxford 2004), volume 19, pp.355-357].
The donation was noted in the Society’s Council Minutes: “Reported the gift by Mr E.F.Croft-Murray of a miniature in Indian ink on vellum by J.Ferguson (F.R.S. 1763) and that the identity of the subject was unknown”. [Royal Society Minutes of Council, Printed, vol.18 1948-1953 p.5, minute 24 for the meeting of 16 December 1948]. Croft-Murray was Keeper, Department of Prints and Drawings, British Museum, 1954-1972. [“Edward Croft-Murray CBE (1907-1980)”, Who was Who 1971-1980, vol. 7 (A.&C. Black, London, 1981), p.185].
Associated place