John Wallis
(1616-1703), MathematicianLater Stuart Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 11 portraits
John Wallis was a mathematician who played a part in the development of modern calculus and is credited with introducing the symbol for infinity. Having discovered a facility for code breaking, Wallis became a cryptographer on behalf of the Parliamentary party during the Civil War. He was a founding member of the Royal Society, and contributed more than sixty papers and several reviews of mathematical books to the society's Philosophical Transactions. In 1649, Wallis was appointed Savilian Professor of Geometry at Oxford. He held his professorship for over half a century, and became known as one of the leading mathematicians of his time.
More on John Wallis: Pepys and his Contemporaries book in our Shops
by David Loggan
line engraving, 1678
NPG 639
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, feigned oval, based on a work of 1701
NPG 578
by William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1670
NPG D22975
by William Faithorne
line engraving, published 1670
NPG D22976
by David Loggan
line engraving, 1678
NPG D7557
by David Loggan
engraving, 1678
NPG D19337
by Michael Burghers, after William Sunman (Sonmans)
line engraving, 1699
NPG D29620
by John Faber Sr, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1707-1721
NPG D38503
by John Faber Sr, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt, published by Thomas Bakewell
mezzotint, mid 18th century
NPG D29621
by Giovanni Battista Cipriani, after David Loggan
line engraving, late 18th century
NPG D29619
by Robert Cooper, published by Henry Colburn, after William Derby, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published May 1825
NPG D38504
Tell us more back to top
Can you tell us more about this person? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.
If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, please use our Rights and Images service.
Please note that we cannot provide valuations.
We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.