Credit: ©The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9734
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Portrait of George Peacock
Date
1860
Sitter
George Peacock (1791 - 1858, British) , Mathematician
Creator
Douglas Wye Blakiston (1810 - 1870, British) , Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 1124mm
width (painting): 868mm
width (painting): 868mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Half-length portrait of George Peacock seated in an armchair upholstered in red with a carved wooden back and scrolled armrests. Peacock is half-turned to the viewer’s left and holds open a paper-bound book in which is a plan and elevation of Ely Cathedral, where Peacock serves as Dean. Two volumes rest on a table at Peacock’s right hand, the table covered by a blue cloth with a patterned edge. Additional leather-bound books can be seen in a wooden bookcase behind the sitter. Peacock is dressed soberly, in clerical style: a black suit with a white shirt and neck-cloth.
George Peacock was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1818.
George Peacock was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1818.
Transcription
GEORGE PEACOCK, F.R.S. (1791-1858) DEAN OF ELY by D.Y.BLAKISTON
Object history
Presented by subscribers, 1860.
The painting was a posthumous work. A letter from the Chairman of the committee of subscribers, Sir Charles Jasper Selwyn (1813-1869, judge, has been preserved in the Society’s archives: "As the Chairman of the Committee of Subscribers to the picture of the late Dean of Ely I beg to request you to communicate to the Royal Society the unanimous wish of the Committee & of the Subscribers to present the picture to the Royal Society. In the event of our request being complied with the picture will be forwarded by Dr.L.Beale at any time most convenient to yourself.” [Letter, J.C.Selwyn, 15 June 1860, to the Secretary of the Royal Society, Miscellaneous Correspondence, MC/6/95]. The letter was reproduced in the Society’s Council minutes where it was “Resolved, - that thanks be returned to Mr. Selwyn, the Committee and the Subscribers, for their highly valued gift.” [Royal Society Council Minutes, Printed, CMP/3, 1858-1869, meeting of 21 June 1860, p.64].
The painting was a posthumous work. A letter from the Chairman of the committee of subscribers, Sir Charles Jasper Selwyn (1813-1869, judge, has been preserved in the Society’s archives: "As the Chairman of the Committee of Subscribers to the picture of the late Dean of Ely I beg to request you to communicate to the Royal Society the unanimous wish of the Committee & of the Subscribers to present the picture to the Royal Society. In the event of our request being complied with the picture will be forwarded by Dr.L.Beale at any time most convenient to yourself.” [Letter, J.C.Selwyn, 15 June 1860, to the Secretary of the Royal Society, Miscellaneous Correspondence, MC/6/95]. The letter was reproduced in the Society’s Council minutes where it was “Resolved, - that thanks be returned to Mr. Selwyn, the Committee and the Subscribers, for their highly valued gift.” [Royal Society Council Minutes, Printed, CMP/3, 1858-1869, meeting of 21 June 1860, p.64].
Associated place