Portraits of Dr. William HarveyRoyal Society of Medicine (Great Britain)
Science
Portraits of Dr. William Harvey
Royal Society of Medicine (Great Britain)
Harvey, William, 1578-1657 -- Portraits
prophetic, or whether it was not put into the cloister by his order when
he visited Padua many years later and had already made his name as ‘a
medical light’, in which case the crest is merely symbolic.
[Illustration: IX]
X
ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS
(In the Large Library)
OIL PAINTING BY CORNELIUS JANSSEN
Three-quarter figure, sitting in a large arm-chair, directed to the
left; three-quarter face, looking at the spectator; in gown, the arms of
which are fastened with braided loops; the plum-coloured velvet sleeves
of the under-coat have reversed cuffs. The left hand rests on a stone
parapet, the finger outstretched as if in demonstration; the right hand
holds a doctor’s hat, which rests between the knees and is held
sideways. The face is thin and long, with a small peaked beard and
scanty grey hair. There is a stone pillar in the middle background;
curtain to right, clouds to left. Size of canvas 52 in. by 42 in.
The pedigree and authenticity of this portrait are incontestable, as it
was one of the three pictures saved at the Great Fire of London in 1666,
which destroyed the College of Physicians then situated in Amen Corner.
It is possible that the portrait was expressly painted for the College
and it may have been a gift from Harvey himself. It is a pleasing
picture spoilt by the right hand, which is so painted as to make it seem
deformed.
The painter Cornelius Janssen or Janson van Keulen (1590-1664) lived in
England from about 1618, until 1648, and was for the whole of that time
a popular portrait painter. There are several reputed Janssen portraits
of Harvey, some at least of which may have been painted as replicas by
one or other of Janssen’s pupils.
[Illustration: X]
XI
MR. D’ARCY POWER’S PORTRAIT OF HARVEY
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account