Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) natural philosopher and mathematician

Location

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.

People

Sir Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727)

Places

Subjects

male portrait, British School C18th, astronomy, mathematics, natural philosophy, physics, dividers, alchemy, eagle

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

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