Sir William Petty

Sitterback to top

• Sir William Petty (1623-1687), Political economist. Sitter associated with 8 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Isaac Fuller (1606?-1672), Painter. Artist associated with 12 portraits, Sitter associated with 3 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Petty is here shown holding a skull with a copy of Adriaen van der Spiegal's De Humani Corporis Fabrica (On the Fabric of the Human Body) of 1627, which is open at Plate 3. Pepys wrote in his diary on 27 January 1664, 'Up and to the office; and at noon to the Coffee-house, where I sat with...Sir Wm. Petty, who in discourse is methinks one of the most rational men that ever I heard speak with a tongue, having all his notions the most distinct and clear'.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Ollard, Richard, Character Sketches: Samuel Pepys and His Circle, 2000, p. 51
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 490

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

• Science, Religion and Politics: The Royal Society (11 September 2010 - 5 December 2010)
• Restoration Lives: Samuel Pepys and His Circle (31 March 2003 - 26 October 2003)

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Books and libraries
• Skulls and bones