Credit: ©The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9712
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Portrait of Theodore Haak
Date
ca. 1683-1690
Sitter
Theodore Haak (1605 - 1690, German) , Translator
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 762mm
width (painting): 635mm
width (painting): 635mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Half-length portrait of Theodore Haak, seated [?] before a table, upon which rests a steel magnet. Haak’s body is turned to the right as viewed, his head looking to the left in half-profile. He gestures towards the instrument with his right hand, index finger slightly extended. The sitter has shoulder-length natural brown hair, balding at the forehead. He wears a loose brown robe and white neck-cloth.
Theodore Haak was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1663.
Theodore Haak was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1663.
Transcription
THEODORUS HAAK ARMIG. REGIAE SOCIETATIS SOC.
Theodore Haak
Theodore Haak 1605-90 by J.Richardson
HAAK
Theodore Haak
THEODORE HAAK, F.R.S. (1605-90) by J.RICHARDSON
Theodore Haak
Theodore Haak 1605-90 by J.Richardson
HAAK
Theodore Haak
THEODORE HAAK, F.R.S. (1605-90) by J.RICHARDSON
Object history
Presented by Frederick Slare FRS (1646/7-1727), 1690.
The donation by Frederick Slare [Haak’s cousin] coming so closely upon the death of the sitter, suggests that the work was owned by Theodore Haak, particularly in view of it being one of two personal effects given to the Society. Both are recorded in the Society’s Journal Books: “Dr. Slare presented a small roule of Tobacco which had been kept by Mr.Haak 45 years in a Tin box, it was found to have an excellent good scent & colour not at all impaired by age. The same presented the Picture of Mr.Haak to be hung up in the Meeting room, for which he had the thanks of the Society.” [Royal Society Journal Book, Original, JBO/9, meeting of 12 November 1690, p.11]. The gift is listed in early catalogues of the Society’s Repository. [Royal Society Manuscript General, MS/416/11, p.295].
The attribution to Jonathan Richardson the elder (1665-1745) seems to date from the Society’s 1834 list of paintings, where the artist is given simply as “Richardson”. [Portraits in the possession of the Royal Society (Royal Society, London, November 1834), p.3]. This is just possible, but unlikely, since Richardson did not commence training under his master John Riley (1646-1691) until c.1687 and continuing until Riley’s death in 1691. [“Richardson, Jonathan, the elder (1667-1745)”, by Carol Gibson-Wood, ODNB vol.46, pp.827-828].
The donation by Frederick Slare [Haak’s cousin] coming so closely upon the death of the sitter, suggests that the work was owned by Theodore Haak, particularly in view of it being one of two personal effects given to the Society. Both are recorded in the Society’s Journal Books: “Dr. Slare presented a small roule of Tobacco which had been kept by Mr.Haak 45 years in a Tin box, it was found to have an excellent good scent & colour not at all impaired by age. The same presented the Picture of Mr.Haak to be hung up in the Meeting room, for which he had the thanks of the Society.” [Royal Society Journal Book, Original, JBO/9, meeting of 12 November 1690, p.11]. The gift is listed in early catalogues of the Society’s Repository. [Royal Society Manuscript General, MS/416/11, p.295].
The attribution to Jonathan Richardson the elder (1665-1745) seems to date from the Society’s 1834 list of paintings, where the artist is given simply as “Richardson”. [Portraits in the possession of the Royal Society (Royal Society, London, November 1834), p.3]. This is just possible, but unlikely, since Richardson did not commence training under his master John Riley (1646-1691) until c.1687 and continuing until Riley’s death in 1691. [“Richardson, Jonathan, the elder (1667-1745)”, by Carol Gibson-Wood, ODNB vol.46, pp.827-828].
Associated place