Sir Isaac Newton

Sitterback to top

• Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727), Mathematical scientist. Sitter associated with 45 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Enoch Seeman (1694-1744), Painter. Artist associated with 17 portraits, Sitter in 2 portraits.

This portraitback to top

An immensely influential mathematical scientist, in one year (1665-6), when driven from Cambridge by plague, Newton formulated a series of important theories concerning light, colour, calculus and the 'universal law of gravitation'. According to tradition, he developed the latter theory after seeing an apple fall from a tree. He published Principia Mathematica (1687) and the Optics (1704), and was knighted in 1705. Newton, who was President of the Royal Society from 1703 until his death, is seen in this portrait by Vanderbank seated at a table. Before him is a celestial globe and an open volume, probably the third edition of his Principia Mathematica.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Gibson, Robin, Treasures from the National Portrait Gallery, 1996, p. 51
• Hackmann, W.D., Apples and Atoms: Portraits of Scientists from Newton to Rutherford, 1986, p. 24
• Ingamells, John, Later Stuart Portraits 1685-1714, 2009, p. 190
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 458

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Chairs
• Maps