Portrait of Alan Drury
Date
1952
Sitter
Alan Nigel Drury (1889 - 1980, British) , Experimental Pathologist
Creator
Denis Fildes (1889 - 1974, British) , Painter
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 623mm
width (painting): 750mm
width (painting): 750mm
Subject
Content object
Description
A half-length portrait shows Drury seated, his right hand resting at his earlobe, the left holding spectacles. The sitter wears a grey three-piece suit with white shirt, handkerchief and a blue tie with a white stripe. The chain of a pocket watch is visible. To the sitter’s right, on a shelf, are glass chemical storage jars and a larger corked demijohn.
Sir Alan Drury was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1937, he served as its Vice President from 1955 to 1956.
Sir Alan Drury was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1937, he served as its Vice President from 1955 to 1956.
Transcription
James Bourlet & Sons Ltd., Fine Art Packers, Frame Makers
G11575
17 and 18 Nassau St.
Royal Society of Portrait Painters
Name of Artist: Denis Fildes
Address: Antrobus House
Amesbury, Wilts.
Title of Work: Sir Alan N. Drury CBE/MD/FRCP/FRC
No. on schedule: 2
SIR ALAN DRURY F.R.S. (1889-1980)
By DENIS FILDES
G11575
17 and 18 Nassau St.
Royal Society of Portrait Painters
Name of Artist: Denis Fildes
Address: Antrobus House
Amesbury, Wilts.
Title of Work: Sir Alan N. Drury CBE/MD/FRCP/FRC
No. on schedule: 2
SIR ALAN DRURY F.R.S. (1889-1980)
By DENIS FILDES
Object history
Donated by the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine in 1980 and apparently painted in 1952, the date of Drury’s retirement from the Lister. The artist Denis Fildes was the brother of the microbiologist Sir Paul Fildes FRS (1882-1971) who had also worked at the Lister Institute during the years 1946-1949.
The Royal Society’s Officer’s Minutes from July 1980 state that: “Agreed, subject to view, to accept with thanks an offer, conveyed by Sir Ashley Miles, whereby the Society would receive from the Lister Institute portraits of four Fellows: Sir Alan Drury, Sir John Ledingham (1875-1944), Sir Charles Martin (1866-1955) and Sir Ashley Miles.” [Royal Society Officer’s Minutes, 17 July 1980, July 1975-October 1981 p. 260].
A letter of thanks was sent to Professor A Neuberger FRS, Chairman of the Governing Body on 8 October 1980. [Royal Society Provenance File: letter, President RS to A Neuberger, Lister Institute, Elstree, Hertfordshire, 8 October 1980].
The pose may be characteristic: the photographic frontispiece to Drury’s Royal Society Biographical Memoir shows the sitter in a similar attitude.
The Royal Society’s Officer’s Minutes from July 1980 state that: “Agreed, subject to view, to accept with thanks an offer, conveyed by Sir Ashley Miles, whereby the Society would receive from the Lister Institute portraits of four Fellows: Sir Alan Drury, Sir John Ledingham (1875-1944), Sir Charles Martin (1866-1955) and Sir Ashley Miles.” [Royal Society Officer’s Minutes, 17 July 1980, July 1975-October 1981 p. 260].
A letter of thanks was sent to Professor A Neuberger FRS, Chairman of the Governing Body on 8 October 1980. [Royal Society Provenance File: letter, President RS to A Neuberger, Lister Institute, Elstree, Hertfordshire, 8 October 1980].
The pose may be characteristic: the photographic frontispiece to Drury’s Royal Society Biographical Memoir shows the sitter in a similar attitude.
Associated place