Portrait of Ernest Rutherford
Date
1932
Sitter
Baron Rutherford of Nelson Ernest Rutherford (1871 - 1937, New Zealander) , Physicist
Creator
Oswald Hornby Joseph Birley (1880 - 1952, British) , Painter
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 1540mm
width (painting): 1039mm
width (painting): 1039mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Three-quarter length portrait of Ernest Rutherford, standing with right hand on hip, the left leaning on a small stack of books on a table or bench to the right as viewed. Glass column tubes, receivers and vacuum tube filled with mercury (apparently referring to Rutherford’s work in identifying alpha particles as positively-charged helium atoms) appear in the right foreground as viewed. Rutherford is dressed in a black suit and tie with a white wing-collar shirt and a gold watch chain visible at the waistcoat. Over this, a black teaching robe. Rutherford has greying hair and a moustache.
Ernest Rutherford was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1903, he served as its President from 1925 to 1930.
Ernest Rutherford was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1903, he served as its President from 1925 to 1930.
Transcription
Oswald Birley 1932
Drawing Materials from C.Robertson 7 Co. Ltd...” ink on this “60x40 Covered XX Canvas primed 7/31
James Bourlet & Sons Ltd...F18587
LORD RUTHERFORD OF NELSON, O.M. PRESIDENT 1925-1930. by OSWALD BIRLEY.
Drawing Materials from C.Robertson 7 Co. Ltd...” ink on this “60x40 Covered XX Canvas primed 7/31
James Bourlet & Sons Ltd...F18587
LORD RUTHERFORD OF NELSON, O.M. PRESIDENT 1925-1930. by OSWALD BIRLEY.
Object history
Presented by a committee of subscribers, 1932.
The painting was in production by February 1932, according to Officers’ Minutes: “Agreed that the portrait of Lord Rutherford now being painted by Oswald Birley be hung in the Meeting Room in place of that of Sir George Stokes...” [Royal Society Officers’ Meetings Minute Book, OM/2 [CMB/87b], meeting of 18 February 1932, p.36]. Formal presentation was on 9 June 1932: “Read a letter from the Earl of Crawford suggesting that the portrait of Lord Rutherford by Oswald Birley be presented to the Society at the meeting on June 9 next...” [Royal Society Officers’ Meetings Minute Book, OM/2 [CMB/87b], meeting of 14 April 1932, p.38]. It was copied two years later by Birley, to be sent to New Zealand. [Royal Society Council Minutes, Printed, CMP/14, 1932-1936, meeting of 25 October 1934, p.167].
The painting was in production by February 1932, according to Officers’ Minutes: “Agreed that the portrait of Lord Rutherford now being painted by Oswald Birley be hung in the Meeting Room in place of that of Sir George Stokes...” [Royal Society Officers’ Meetings Minute Book, OM/2 [CMB/87b], meeting of 18 February 1932, p.36]. Formal presentation was on 9 June 1932: “Read a letter from the Earl of Crawford suggesting that the portrait of Lord Rutherford by Oswald Birley be presented to the Society at the meeting on June 9 next...” [Royal Society Officers’ Meetings Minute Book, OM/2 [CMB/87b], meeting of 14 April 1932, p.38]. It was copied two years later by Birley, to be sent to New Zealand. [Royal Society Council Minutes, Printed, CMP/14, 1932-1936, meeting of 25 October 1934, p.167].
Associated place