Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) natural philosopher and mathematician
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About the work
- Location
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Country: UK
City: London
Place: Downing Street
This painting may have been intended to decorate a public building such as a library. The numbers, seen to the lower left and lower right of the painting, suggest it was part of a series of similar portraits, which were hung in sequence around a room.
To the left of the painting, the allegorical figure holding a stone tablet represents Philosophy and the figure to the right, with a pair of dividers, represents Geometry. The significance of the eagle to the left of the painting is not known. The depiction of Newton himself as a bust is based on a portrait bust by the sculptor Louis Francois Roubiliac (1702-1761) of 1751. However, Newton’s features, in particular his eyes, have been painted to appear life-like.
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Explore
- Places
- Subjects
- male portrait, British School C18th, astronomy, mathematics, natural philosophy, physics, dividers, alchemy, eagle
- Materials & Techniques
- canvas, oil, oil painting
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Details
- Artist
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British 18th century unknown
- Title
- Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) natural philosopher and mathematician
- Date
- c.1750
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- height: 75.50 cm, width: 137.00 cm
- Acquisition
- Purchased from Frank T Sabin, May 1971
- Inscription
- bl: 6 ; br: 7 ; bc: ISAAC NEWTON / EQUES.
- GAC number
- 9267