William Harvey
(1578-1657), Physician, discovered the circulation of the bloodEarly Stuart Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 20 portraits
Court physician to James I and Charles I, Harvey is best known for his discovery of the principle of blood circulation. His De Motu Cordis et Sanguinis (On the Movement of the Heart and Blood), published in 1628, identified the heart as a pump, central to the flow of blood. Harvey also conducted work in embryology and argued that life arose from the egg and was not spontaneously generated as previously thought. He was described as 'hot-headed, and his thoughts working would many times keep him from sleeping'.
possibly after Richard Gaywood
oil on canvas, based on a work of circa 1649
NPG 60
by William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1653
NPG D22767
by William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1653
NPG D22768
by William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1653 or after
NPG D22769
by William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1653
NPG D27265
by Richard Gaywood, probably after William Faithorne
etching, circa 1653; published 1660
NPG D43293
after Wilhelm von Bemmel, published by John Hinton
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D27266
after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D27268
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Wilhelm von Bemmel
line engraving, 1739
NPG D27271
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Wilhelm von Bemmel
line engraving, 1739
NPG D35554
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Wilhelm von Bemmel
line engraving, published 1739 (1739)
NPG D42906
after Wilhelm von Bemmel
line engraving, 1750s-1770s
NPG D3232
probably after Peter Scheemakers
line engraving, (circa 1750-1775)
NPG D18820
by Philipp Audinet, after Wilhelm von Bemmel
line engraving, published 1795
NPG D27269
by Samuel Freeman
stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D27267
by Edward Scriven, after Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D27270
by Sir George Scharf, after R. Gaywood
pencil on tracing paper, 1859
NPG D2198
by Sir George Scharf
pen and ink on paper, 1870
NPG D49658
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