Credit: ©The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9747
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Portrait of Heinrich Christian Schumacher
Date
ca. 1840s
Sitter
Heinrich Christian Schumacher (1780 - 1850, German) , Astronomer
Creator
Attributed to M. Wullf, Painter
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 864mm
width (painting): 787mm
width (painting): 787mm
Subject
Description
Half-length portrait of Heinrich Schumacher, seated, body half-turned to the right as viewed. The astronomer sits in a high-backed wooden chair with rounded arms incorporating a carved leaf design. The background is entirely red patterned wallpaper. Schumacher is dressed in a black suit with a high-collared white shirt and tie. He holds a small rounded box in both hands, possibly a spectacles-case, with a black and gold fluted surface.
Heinrich Schumacher was elected a Foriegn Member of the Royal Society in 1821.
Heinrich Schumacher was elected a Foriegn Member of the Royal Society in 1821.
Transcription
Schumacher
1R
H.C.Schumacher
H.C.SCHUMACHER F.R.S. (1780-1850) by H.WOLF
1R
H.C.Schumacher
H.C.SCHUMACHER F.R.S. (1780-1850) by H.WOLF
Object history
Presented by M.Wolf, ca.1847.
Charles Robert Weld’s formal catalogue of Royal Society paintings lists this work in 1860 as being painted and presented by H.Wolf. [Descriptive catalogue of the portraits in the possession of the Royal Society, by Charles Richard Weld (Taylor and Francis, London, 1860), p.58]. However an earlier list by Weld, from 1848, gives the artist as M.Wulff [A history of the Royal Society...in two volumes, by Charles Richard Weld (John W.Parker, London, 1848) vol,2, p.580] and there is one engraved portrait after this artist in NPG, named as being “active mid-19th century”. [Engraving, William Pinton by Thomas Oldham Barlow after M.Wulff, NPG D40229]. Later Royal Society catalogues give a presentation date of 1847 and the work was certainly in the Royal Society’s care by 1848. However, the work is not noted in the Journal Books, Council Minutes or printed lists of presents during that year. A variant lithographed version of the work by Charles Baugniet (1814-1886) published by E.J.Dent, lists the painting as belonging to the Royal Society, but does not give an artist’s name.
Charles Robert Weld’s formal catalogue of Royal Society paintings lists this work in 1860 as being painted and presented by H.Wolf. [Descriptive catalogue of the portraits in the possession of the Royal Society, by Charles Richard Weld (Taylor and Francis, London, 1860), p.58]. However an earlier list by Weld, from 1848, gives the artist as M.Wulff [A history of the Royal Society...in two volumes, by Charles Richard Weld (John W.Parker, London, 1848) vol,2, p.580] and there is one engraved portrait after this artist in NPG, named as being “active mid-19th century”. [Engraving, William Pinton by Thomas Oldham Barlow after M.Wulff, NPG D40229]. Later Royal Society catalogues give a presentation date of 1847 and the work was certainly in the Royal Society’s care by 1848. However, the work is not noted in the Journal Books, Council Minutes or printed lists of presents during that year. A variant lithographed version of the work by Charles Baugniet (1814-1886) published by E.J.Dent, lists the painting as belonging to the Royal Society, but does not give an artist’s name.
Associated place