Credit: ©The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9708
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Portrait of Thomas Gale
Date
ca. 1680
Sitter
Thomas Gale (1635 - 1702, British) , Antiquary
Creator
Attributed to John Riley (1646 - 1691, British) , Painter
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 762mm
width (painting): 635mm
width (painting): 635mm
Subject
Description
Half-length portrait of Gale dressed in black ecclesiastical gown and white bands. Gale’s body is angled to the viewer’s left and he regards the viewer directly. He has long natural brown hair and a prominent mole on the left cheek.
Thomas Gale was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1677.
Thomas Gale was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1677.
Transcription
THO.GALE. S.T.P. DEC. ESQR. REG.SOC. OLIV [?] SECRET
Thomas Gale Secretary by John Riley
THOMAS GALE (1636-1702) SECRETARY 1675-81 AND 1686-91 by JOHN RILEY
Thomas Gale Secretary by John Riley
THOMAS GALE (1636-1702) SECRETARY 1675-81 AND 1686-91 by JOHN RILEY
Object history
Attributed to John Riley. Presented by Roger Gale FRS (1672-1744), 1719.
The donation is noted in the Journal Books: “Mr Gales made the Society a present of the Revd. Dr. Gales Picture for which he received their thanks.” [Royal Society Journal Book, Original, JBO/12, meeting of 22 October 1719, p.356]. Previous catalogues give no provenance for this work, although the 1834 listing of portraits gives the artist as “Riley”. [Portraits in the possession of the Royal Society (London, Royal Society, November 1834), p.1].
The donation is noted in the Journal Books: “Mr Gales made the Society a present of the Revd. Dr. Gales Picture for which he received their thanks.” [Royal Society Journal Book, Original, JBO/12, meeting of 22 October 1719, p.356]. Previous catalogues give no provenance for this work, although the 1834 listing of portraits gives the artist as “Riley”. [Portraits in the possession of the Royal Society (London, Royal Society, November 1834), p.1].
Associated place