Credit: ©The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9748
Looking for a special gift? Buy a print of this image.
Portrait of John Somers
Date
ca. 1693-1700
Sitter
John Somers, 1st Baron Somers (1651 - 1716, British) , Lawyer
Creator
Godfrey Kneller (1646 - 1723, British) , Painter
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 1040mm
width (painting): 775mm
width (painting): 775mm
Description
Half-length portrait of John Somers wearing a shoulder-length brown wig, brown robe and a white shirt and cravat. The right hand is visible, the left hand obscured in the folds of the robe as he stands with left arm crooked. Behind, and to the left as viewed, a bag containing the Great Seal, embroidered with the Royal coat-of-arms, rests on a table covered with a red cloth.
The bag for the Great Seal also appears in the Society’s portrait of Francis Bacon, Viscount St Albans (1561-1626), denoting his role as Lord Chancellor and Keeper of the Great Seal.
John Somers was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1698, he served as its President from 1698 to 1703.
The bag for the Great Seal also appears in the Society’s portrait of Francis Bacon, Viscount St Albans (1561-1626), denoting his role as Lord Chancellor and Keeper of the Great Seal.
John Somers was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1698, he served as its President from 1698 to 1703.
Transcription
Royal Society Frame 1 Cellar
Object history
Presented by Sir Joseph Jekyll (1663 -1738), 1719.
The gift is recorded in the Society’s Journal Books: “A Picture of the late Lord Somers was presented by the Master of the Rolls. Dr. Halley was desired to wait upon the Mr. of Rolls with the thanks of the Society for the valuable present.” [Royal Society Journal Book, Original, JBO/12, meeting of 22 October 1719, p.356].
The gift is recorded in the Society’s Journal Books: “A Picture of the late Lord Somers was presented by the Master of the Rolls. Dr. Halley was desired to wait upon the Mr. of Rolls with the thanks of the Society for the valuable present.” [Royal Society Journal Book, Original, JBO/12, meeting of 22 October 1719, p.356].
Associated place