JF Ptak Science Books  Quick Post

Of the many portraits painted of Isaac Newton, the vast majority of them came after his death–some were fanciful, some were based on recollection, and others were based on the few examples that have survived painted of him in life.  This happened quite a bit–even someone as esteemed as his semi-counter-rival, the great Robert Hooke, received no attention at all from portraitists during his lifetime.

I found this lovely portrait of Newton–a miniature, nearly–an engraving by Laderer after the 1726 painting by John Vanderbank, made just  a year before his death, and almost 40 years after he ascent to great fame. 

It is an image I don’t see very often.  

The original is about 1.5×1 inch on a 10×7 inch sheet, and printed in ca. 1820-30.  I’m unsure of the engraving’s origin. The full version is below.

THere’s also this engraving, made of the same painting, and executed in the 1830’s, that shows Newton in a little less flattering light–at least here he looks as though he has some decent age on him.