Portrait of Joseph John Thomson
Date
1922
Sitter
Joseph John Thomson (1856 - 1940, British) , Knight Physicist, Physicist
Creator
George Fiddes Watt (1873 - 1960, British) , Painter
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 1123mm
width (painting): 841mm
width (painting): 841mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Half-length portrait of J.J.Thomson, seated in a wooden armchair, his body almost side-on to the viewer. Thomson wears a white shirt with a wing collar, a black suit and tie with a black academic teaching robe over this. He holds a small open notebook in both hands with a pencil in the right hand. Thomson’s hair is grey, and parted on his right, his moustache light brown. He wears gold-rimmed spectacles.
Joseph John Thomson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1884, he served as its President from 1915 to 1920.
Joseph John Thomson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1884, he served as its President from 1915 to 1920.
Transcription
Fiddes Watt 1922
James Bourlet & Sons, Ltd....B 4700
Vaulted corridor, Grd
Fiddes Watt
Royal Society of Portrait Painters. Name of artist Fiddes Watt Address 178 Cromwell Road Title Sir J.J.Thomson No. on schedule 1
SIR JOSEPH J. THOMSON, Pres.R.S. By G.FIDDES WATT.
James Bourlet & Sons, Ltd....B 4700
Vaulted corridor, Grd
Fiddes Watt
Royal Society of Portrait Painters. Name of artist Fiddes Watt Address 178 Cromwell Road Title Sir J.J.Thomson No. on schedule 1
SIR JOSEPH J. THOMSON, Pres.R.S. By G.FIDDES WATT.
Object history
Presented by a committee of subscribers, 1922.
The gift, received on 30 November 1922, was unveiled in the presence of the sitter. Recorded in Charles Scott Sherrington’s Presidential Address: “Also this afternoon the Society has received at the hands of Sir Richard Threlfall and Dr.Scott on behalf of the subscribers the gift of a portrait of Sir Joseph Thomson. The portrait is by Mr.Fiddes Watt, an admirable work of art and a striking likeness. In the Society’s rooms it will be a cherished memento of one whose scientific achievements are a source of pride to the whole Society, of one whose services as President and in other capacities the Society holds in grateful remembrance, and of one whose presence at the Society, always valued as it is, the Society is glad to have this afternoon and hopes will long continue to be frequent. The portrait will typify on our walls much of the very best of the Society’s tradition.” [“Address of the President, Sir Charles.S.Sherrington, at the Anniversary Meeting, November 30, 1922”, Proceedings of the Royal Society, B, vol.94, no. 663, 2 April 1923, pp.i-xvi].
The gift, received on 30 November 1922, was unveiled in the presence of the sitter. Recorded in Charles Scott Sherrington’s Presidential Address: “Also this afternoon the Society has received at the hands of Sir Richard Threlfall and Dr.Scott on behalf of the subscribers the gift of a portrait of Sir Joseph Thomson. The portrait is by Mr.Fiddes Watt, an admirable work of art and a striking likeness. In the Society’s rooms it will be a cherished memento of one whose scientific achievements are a source of pride to the whole Society, of one whose services as President and in other capacities the Society holds in grateful remembrance, and of one whose presence at the Society, always valued as it is, the Society is glad to have this afternoon and hopes will long continue to be frequent. The portrait will typify on our walls much of the very best of the Society’s tradition.” [“Address of the President, Sir Charles.S.Sherrington, at the Anniversary Meeting, November 30, 1922”, Proceedings of the Royal Society, B, vol.94, no. 663, 2 April 1923, pp.i-xvi].
Associated place