Credit: ©The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9725
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Portrait of Joseph Priestley
Date
1789
Sitter
Joseph Priestley (1733 - 1804, British) , Natural philosopher
Creator
James Millar (British) , Painter
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 674mm
width (painting): 573mm
width (painting): 573mm
Subject
Description
Head and shoulders portrait in a painted oval, body turned to the viewer’s right. Joseph Priestley is dressed in a dark coat and waistcoat, with a white neck-cloth and a short grey wig, curled.
Joseph Priestley was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1766.
Joseph Priestley was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1766.
Transcription
Rev. Jos: Priestley LLD J: Millar pinxt 1789
Dr Joseph Priestley Sarah Priestley Wainewright March 1891
50
JOSEPH PRIESTLEY F.R.S. 1733-1804 by J.MILLAR
Dr Joseph Priestley Sarah Priestley Wainewright March 1891
50
JOSEPH PRIESTLEY F.R.S. 1733-1804 by J.MILLAR
Object history
Presented by Mrs I.M. Priestley, 1938.
In Council Minutes: “It was reported that Mrs.I.M.Priestley had presented the Society with an oil painting of Joseph Priestley by J.Millar. Resolved – That the thanks of the Society be returned to Mrs Priestley for her gift and also to Mr.H.M.Hake, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, for his good offices in the matter.” [Royal Society Council Minutes, Printed, CMP/15, 1936-1940, meeting of 3 November 1938, p.174].
Sir Henry M Hake (1892-1951) then Director of the National Portrait Gallery would have been very aware of the lack of a Priestley portrait at the Royal Society following his involvement in the identification of the spurious portrait donated by Lord Melchett in 1930. This picture was offered initially to the Trustees of the NPG, but was referred to the Royal Society. The correspondence, including a letter from Mrs I.M Priestley of Peterley Corner, Great Missenden, is preserved in the Society’s archives. [Correspondence, C.K.Adams and I.M.Priestley with the Assistant Secretary, 15 October-9 November 1938, Royal Society Modern Domestic Archives, MDA/G/3.2].
In Council Minutes: “It was reported that Mrs.I.M.Priestley had presented the Society with an oil painting of Joseph Priestley by J.Millar. Resolved – That the thanks of the Society be returned to Mrs Priestley for her gift and also to Mr.H.M.Hake, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, for his good offices in the matter.” [Royal Society Council Minutes, Printed, CMP/15, 1936-1940, meeting of 3 November 1938, p.174].
Sir Henry M Hake (1892-1951) then Director of the National Portrait Gallery would have been very aware of the lack of a Priestley portrait at the Royal Society following his involvement in the identification of the spurious portrait donated by Lord Melchett in 1930. This picture was offered initially to the Trustees of the NPG, but was referred to the Royal Society. The correspondence, including a letter from Mrs I.M Priestley of Peterley Corner, Great Missenden, is preserved in the Society’s archives. [Correspondence, C.K.Adams and I.M.Priestley with the Assistant Secretary, 15 October-9 November 1938, Royal Society Modern Domestic Archives, MDA/G/3.2].
Associated place