Frontispiece from Thomas Sprat's "The History of the Royal Society of London"
Bust portrait of Charles II on a low column being crowned by an angel with figures at left and right within an open vaulted interior. Fame crowns the bust with a wreath, Bacon is seated at right holding his chancellor's bag, William Brouncker points to the inscription on the pedestal; there are books and scientific instruments on the walls in the background, with arms of the society above; landscape and country house seen through arch in the background, with man looking through telescope suspended from a tall pole; frontispiece to Thomas Sprat, "The History of the Royal Society of London."
Artwork Details
- Title: Frontispiece from Thomas Sprat's "The History of the Royal Society of London"
- Etcher: Wenceslaus Hollar (Bohemian, Prague 1607–1677 London)
- Artist: After John Evelyn (British, 1620–1706 Wotton, Surrey)
- Author: Related author Thomas Sprat (British, ca. 1635–1713)
- Sitter: Charles II, King of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales (British, London 1630–1685 London)
- Sitter: Francis Bacon, Viscount St. Albans (British, 1561–1626)
- Sitter: William Brouncker, 2nd Viscount Brouncker (British, 1620–1684)
- Date: 1667
- Medium: Etching, only state
- Dimensions: Sheet (trimmed and inlaid): 8 in. × 6 3/8 in. (20.3 × 16.2 cm)
cut within the platemark - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1917
- Object Number: 17.3.1475
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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