Credit: ©The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9675
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Deputation to Faraday
Date
1873
Sitter
Michael Faraday (1791 - 1867, British) , Natural philosopher
John Peter Gassiot (1797 - 1877, British) , Electrician
William Robert Grove (1791 - 1867, British) , Natural philosopher
John Wrottesley, 2nd Baron Wrottesley (1798 - 1867, British) , Landowner
John Peter Gassiot (1797 - 1877, British) , Electrician
William Robert Grove (1791 - 1867, British) , Natural philosopher
John Wrottesley, 2nd Baron Wrottesley (1798 - 1867, British) , Landowner
Creator
Edward Armitage (1817 - 1896, British) , Painter
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 1376mm
width (painting): 1830mm
width (painting): 1830mm
Content object
Description
Group portrait and historical painting depicting a delegation from Council of the Royal Society in 1857, offering the organisation’s Presidency to Michael Faraday, who refused the office. The delegation occupies the left of the composition, facing Faraday across a table. The group is: John Wrottesley (seated left); J P Gassiot (seated, centre left) W.R.Grove (standing) and Michael Faraday (seated, right).
The scene is an interior with a marble fireplace in the background over which is a mirror. A candlestick and clock rest on the mantle. Green patterned wallpaper and a framed pattern design can be seen to the left and a bell-pull to the right. Resting on the table is a wooden pen tray with a glass ink bottle, red sealing wax and quills. To the right of this a glass laboratory bottle. A yellow and red cloth is positioned by Faraday’s right hand in which he holds a rolled sheet of paper.
The overall depiction of Faraday is similar to that of Blaikley’s portrait which may have been used as a source image.
The scene is an interior with a marble fireplace in the background over which is a mirror. A candlestick and clock rest on the mantle. Green patterned wallpaper and a framed pattern design can be seen to the left and a bell-pull to the right. Resting on the table is a wooden pen tray with a glass ink bottle, red sealing wax and quills. To the right of this a glass laboratory bottle. A yellow and red cloth is positioned by Faraday’s right hand in which he holds a rolled sheet of paper.
The overall depiction of Faraday is similar to that of Blaikley’s portrait which may have been used as a source image.
Transcription
DEPUTATION TO FARADAY REQUESTING HIM TO ACCEPT THE PRESIDENCY by E.ARMITAGE
Object history
Presented by John Peter Gassiot FRS (1797-1877), 1873.
Apparently commissioned by J.P.Gassiot for the Royal Society. The Society has surviving letters relating to the gift. A letter by J.P.Gassiot provides the date of composition: “The size of the large picture is 7 feet x 5 ½ feet. It was only finished on Saturday...” [Letter, J.P.Gassiot, 11 November 1873, to Walter White, Royal Society, Miscellaneous Correspondence MC/10/37]. A further letter by the artist Edward Armitage indicates that this work reached the Society at Burlington House on 20 November 1873: “Mr Vokin the framemaker will take tomorrow at about 1p.m. two pictures to the Royal Society belonging to J.P.Gassiot Esq. One of them is a KitKat portrait of Faraday and the other a picture commemorating an event in the life of Faraday. Mr Gassiot intends to present...” [Letter, Edward Armitage, 19 November 1873, to the Secretary, Royal Society, Miscellaneous Correspondence MC/10/39].
This work was presented with a portrait of Michael Faraday by Alexander Blaikley.
Apparently commissioned by J.P.Gassiot for the Royal Society. The Society has surviving letters relating to the gift. A letter by J.P.Gassiot provides the date of composition: “The size of the large picture is 7 feet x 5 ½ feet. It was only finished on Saturday...” [Letter, J.P.Gassiot, 11 November 1873, to Walter White, Royal Society, Miscellaneous Correspondence MC/10/37]. A further letter by the artist Edward Armitage indicates that this work reached the Society at Burlington House on 20 November 1873: “Mr Vokin the framemaker will take tomorrow at about 1p.m. two pictures to the Royal Society belonging to J.P.Gassiot Esq. One of them is a KitKat portrait of Faraday and the other a picture commemorating an event in the life of Faraday. Mr Gassiot intends to present...” [Letter, Edward Armitage, 19 November 1873, to the Secretary, Royal Society, Miscellaneous Correspondence MC/10/39].
This work was presented with a portrait of Michael Faraday by Alexander Blaikley.
Associated place