Credit: ©The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9643
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Portrait of Thomas Birch
Date
1737
Sitter
Thomas Birch (1705 - 1766, British) , Historian
Creator
James Wills (British) , Painter
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 918mm
width (painting): 712mm
width (painting): 712mm
Content object
Description
Half-length portrait of Thomas Birch in black clerical robes, white bands and a grey shoulder-length powdered wig. Birch is painted looking to the viewer’s left, holding a book in both hands and marking a place with his right index finger.
Thomas Birch was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1735.
Thomas Birch was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1735.
Transcription
077.8
THOMAS BIRCH (1705-1766) SECRETARY 1752-1765 By J.WILLS
THOMAS BIRCH (1705-1766) SECRETARY 1752-1765 By J.WILLS
Object history
Bequeathed by Thomas Birch, 1766.
The picture is recorded in all former Royal Society printed catalogues of paintings, but with no donor information. However, the painting is described in Birch’s will: “I give and bequeath to the Royal Society of London to whom I owe the highest Gratitude for the honour done me of electing me one of the secretaries, my picture painted by Mr. Wills in 1737 in a black frame and Gilt border being the original of the Mezzotinto print done by Mr. Faber in 1741.” [National Archives, PROB/11/915, will dated 15 January 1765].
The picture is recorded in all former Royal Society printed catalogues of paintings, but with no donor information. However, the painting is described in Birch’s will: “I give and bequeath to the Royal Society of London to whom I owe the highest Gratitude for the honour done me of electing me one of the secretaries, my picture painted by Mr. Wills in 1737 in a black frame and Gilt border being the original of the Mezzotinto print done by Mr. Faber in 1741.” [National Archives, PROB/11/915, will dated 15 January 1765].
Associated place