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
A three-quarter length of Harvey on a panel measuring 15½ in. x 12½ in.
Harvey is represented standing in his study, with his left hand resting
upon a table whereon is spread a diagram of the arterial system. He is
clothed in a long-sleeved, damascened waistcoat confined at the waist by
a belt, with collar and wristbands of point lace. Over all he wears a
long gown heavily trimmed with fur. The background is a green curtain
partially drawn aside to show the shelves of his study, and on the
curtain is an inscription in red letters: ‘Gulielmus Harveus M.D. Aet.
sue 61, 1639.’ The accessories are interesting. On the table a watch
keeps down the edge of the diagram to prevent it folding up. There is an
inkstand with a quill pen in it and a terrestrial globe. Immediately
behind the table is a shelf on which is a simple microscope fitted with
a coarse and fine adjustment, a retort partly filled with fluid, a pair
of scissors, a dissecting-knife, and a sheet of paper. The bookcase
consists of six wooden shelves divided by a median partition. The
lowermost shelf has a urine-glass and a minim measure. In the partition
nearest Harvey are two flasks, one containing a green, the other a red
fluid; a wide-mouthed jar covered with parchment--the jar is
earthenware--and behind it are two square bottles like case-bottles. A
quire of loose paper leans against it. On the other side of the
partition of this lower shelf are two bottles, one unstoppered, the
other stoppered, filled respectively with a red and green fluid. There
is also an object like a catherine wheel. The second shelf from the
bottom contains thirteen dumpy duodecimo volumes bound uniformly in
parchment, whilst upon the other side of the partition are three quarto
volumes well bound in morocco and piled one upon the other. The third
shelf from the bottom is filled with books, four of which are smaller
than the rest. The fourth shelf is wholly filled with books except for a
space showing where one has been removed. The fifth shelf contains books
of various sizes. On the top shelf are two skulls, a square case upon
which stands a stoppered phial filled with some red substance, and four
earthenware jars whose mouths are closed with parchment covers tied on.
The picture is unsigned. It is painted in the traditional style, where
much attention was paid to the minute details of dress and accessories,
so that the work became almost that of a miniaturist. The face is
clearly that of Harvey, a little lined, beard and moustache of the usual
cut, hair worn long, partly hidden by a skull-cap. It represents Harvey
in his happier days when as yet the King his master was alive, for in
1639--the date of the picture--he had just been appointed Senior
Physician in Ordinary to the King, a post which carried with it those
lodgings at Whitehall pillaged by the mob in 1642, when his goods were
stolen and his papers scattered. The picture may show these very
lodgings.
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