Credit: ©The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9723
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Portrait of Hans Sloane
Date
1716
Sitter
Hans Sloane (1660 - 1753, Irish) , Physician
Creator
Godfrey Kneller (1646 - 1723, British) , Painter
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 762mm
width (painting): 629mm
width (painting): 629mm
Subject
Medical Sciences
> Physiology (Medical Sciences)
Politics & Government
> Political doctrines
> Colonialism
> Physiology (Medical Sciences)
Politics & Government
> Political doctrines
> Colonialism
Description
Head and shoulders portrait of Sir Hans Sloane in a painted oval, body turned to the left as viewed. Sloane wears a shoulder-length grey wig, brown coat and has a white lace-trimmed neck-cloth.
Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753), Irish physician and collector, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1685, served on its Council from 1690 to 1699, and as its President from 1727-1741. He was also Editor of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, from 1696-1713, and instrumental in revitalising the publication via his wide network of correspondents whose communications where published therein.
Sloane was a famous collector. While working as a doctor in Jamaica, Sloane made use of enslaved people's knowledge of the island's flora and fauna for his collections, rarely crediting their input. Furthermore, his wide-ranging collecting was funded in-part by profits from sugar plantations in Jamaica. His wife Elizabeth was the co-heir of John Langley, a plantation owner and enslaver. Sloane invested these profits and held shares in the East India Company, the South Sea Company, and the Royal African Company, mercantile companies directly involved in the trade of enslaved people.
Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753), Irish physician and collector, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1685, served on its Council from 1690 to 1699, and as its President from 1727-1741. He was also Editor of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, from 1696-1713, and instrumental in revitalising the publication via his wide network of correspondents whose communications where published therein.
Sloane was a famous collector. While working as a doctor in Jamaica, Sloane made use of enslaved people's knowledge of the island's flora and fauna for his collections, rarely crediting their input. Furthermore, his wide-ranging collecting was funded in-part by profits from sugar plantations in Jamaica. His wife Elizabeth was the co-heir of John Langley, a plantation owner and enslaver. Sloane invested these profits and held shares in the East India Company, the South Sea Company, and the Royal African Company, mercantile companies directly involved in the trade of enslaved people.
Transcription
Sr. Hans Sloane Baronet 1716
SR. HANS SLOANE
Exhibition of portraits of Great Irish men and women, Ulster Museum, Belfast, 24th June-24th July 1965. No.201. Lent by the Royal Society.
James Bourlet and Sons Ltd., Fine Art packers, frame makers. N.28754
R.Society frame 2
SIR HANS SLOANE, Bart., Pres.R.S. by SIR GODFREY KNELLER.
SR. HANS SLOANE
Exhibition of portraits of Great Irish men and women, Ulster Museum, Belfast, 24th June-24th July 1965. No.201. Lent by the Royal Society.
James Bourlet and Sons Ltd., Fine Art packers, frame makers. N.28754
R.Society frame 2
SIR HANS SLOANE, Bart., Pres.R.S. by SIR GODFREY KNELLER.
Object history
Presented by Sir Hans Sloane, 1716.
Noted in the Society’s Journal Book: “Sir Hans Sloane’s Picture was presented by him to the Society for which he received their Thanks”. [Royal Society Journal Book, Original, JBO/12, meeting of 6 December 1716, p.136].
President and Council agree to loan portrait of Sir Hans Sloane along with portraits of Dr Wollaston and Dr E W Gray to the Nottingham Art Gallery, 1892. Letter from Herbert Rix to G H Wallis, Jul 1892. NLB/6/728
Noted in the Society’s Journal Book: “Sir Hans Sloane’s Picture was presented by him to the Society for which he received their Thanks”. [Royal Society Journal Book, Original, JBO/12, meeting of 6 December 1716, p.136].
President and Council agree to loan portrait of Sir Hans Sloane along with portraits of Dr Wollaston and Dr E W Gray to the Nottingham Art Gallery, 1892. Letter from Herbert Rix to G H Wallis, Jul 1892. NLB/6/728
Associated place