Portrait of William Robert Grove
Date
1872
Sitter
William Robert Grove (1791 - 1867, British) , Natural philosopher
Creator
James Edgell Collins (1820, British) , Painter
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 1323mm
width (painting): 974mm
width (painting): 974mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Three quarter length seated portrait of William Robert Grove in judge’s robes and wig. Grove is half-turned to the left as viewed, his right hand held at his face, index finger at his cheek, the left holding the armrest to his chair. Grove wears a signer ring on his left hand. At his right elbow are papers and a book.
William Grove (1811-1896), British natural philosopher and judge, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1840. He served as its Vice President in 1848-1849, 1856-1858, 1861-1862, and 1878-1879. He was awarded tje Society's Royal Medal in 1847 'for his papers published in the Philosophical Transactions for 1845 and 1847, on the gas voltaic battery, and on certain phenomena of voltaic ignition', and the Bakerian Medal and Lecture the same year, which he delivered on 'Certain Phenomena of Voltaic Ignition and the Decomposition of Water into its constituent Gases by Heat'.
William Grove (1811-1896), British natural philosopher and judge, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1840. He served as its Vice President in 1848-1849, 1856-1858, 1861-1862, and 1878-1879. He was awarded tje Society's Royal Medal in 1847 'for his papers published in the Philosophical Transactions for 1845 and 1847, on the gas voltaic battery, and on certain phenomena of voltaic ignition', and the Bakerian Medal and Lecture the same year, which he delivered on 'Certain Phenomena of Voltaic Ignition and the Decomposition of Water into its constituent Gases by Heat'.
Transcription
Jas.Edgell Collins 1872
wall opposite garden door
Sec.Fl.
Canvas DBR
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR WILLIAM GROVE, P.C., F.R.S
wall opposite garden door
Sec.Fl.
Canvas DBR
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR WILLIAM GROVE, P.C., F.R.S
Object history
On permanent loan from the Grove-Hills family, 1941-1942.
The original donation correspondence from 1941-1942 is preserved in the Society’s archives. The portrait was drawn to the Society’s attention by Sir Henry George Lyons FRS (1864-1944): “I found that two portraits of him [W.R.Grove] were with his family and have just heard from Mrs Grove Hill (widow of Col.Grove-Hills FRS) that she, her daughter & her grandson...would be delighted if the Royal would accept one of them.” [Letter, H.G.Lyons, 27 November 1941, to Sir Henry Dale, Royal Society Modern Domestic Archives, file MDA/G3.2]. Juliet Grove-Hills (nee Spencer-Bell) responded by writing: “my daughter...agrees most warmly about the portrait of Sir W.R.G...that it should be presented not sold...” [Letter, Juliet Grove-Hills, 30 November 1941, to Sir Henry Dale, Royal Society Modern Domestic Archives, MDA/A/4/185]. The family arranged to leave the portrait on “permanent loan” in order to remove the need for further administration. [Letter, Juliet Grove-Hills, 7 December 1941, to Sir Henry Dale, Royal Society Modern Domestic Archives, MDA/A/4/185].
Grove also features in the Society’s “Deputation to Faraday” group portrait.
The original donation correspondence from 1941-1942 is preserved in the Society’s archives. The portrait was drawn to the Society’s attention by Sir Henry George Lyons FRS (1864-1944): “I found that two portraits of him [W.R.Grove] were with his family and have just heard from Mrs Grove Hill (widow of Col.Grove-Hills FRS) that she, her daughter & her grandson...would be delighted if the Royal would accept one of them.” [Letter, H.G.Lyons, 27 November 1941, to Sir Henry Dale, Royal Society Modern Domestic Archives, file MDA/G3.2]. Juliet Grove-Hills (nee Spencer-Bell) responded by writing: “my daughter...agrees most warmly about the portrait of Sir W.R.G...that it should be presented not sold...” [Letter, Juliet Grove-Hills, 30 November 1941, to Sir Henry Dale, Royal Society Modern Domestic Archives, MDA/A/4/185]. The family arranged to leave the portrait on “permanent loan” in order to remove the need for further administration. [Letter, Juliet Grove-Hills, 7 December 1941, to Sir Henry Dale, Royal Society Modern Domestic Archives, MDA/A/4/185].
Grove also features in the Society’s “Deputation to Faraday” group portrait.
Associated place
