First Previous 2 OF 831 NextLast

Martin Folkes

2 of 831 portraits matching these criteria:

- subject matching 'Science, appliance and technology'

© National Portrait Gallery, London

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Buy a print Buy a greetings card Make a donation Close

Martin Folkes

by Bernard Lens (III)
watercolour and bodycolour on ivory, circa 1720
3 1/4 in. x 2 1/2 in. (83 mm x 64 mm)
Bequeathed by George Gery Milner-Gibson-Cullum, 1922
Primary Collection
NPG 1926

Sitterback to top

  • Martin Folkes (1690-1754), Antiquary. Sitter in 20 portraits, Artist or producer associated with 1 portrait.

Artistback to top

  • Bernard Lens (III) (1682-1740), Artist, miniature painter, topographical draughtsman, etcher, limner and drawing master. Artist or producer associated with 7 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

In this image, Folkes hand rests on the quadrant of an unidentified scientific instrument.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Kerslake, John, Early Georgian Portraits, 1977, p. 76
  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 222
  • Walker, Richard, Miniatures: 300 Years of the English Miniature, 1998, p. 57 Read entry

    The portrait of Martin Folkes by Bernard Lens shows the distinguished antiquary and scientist holding a quadrant, emblematic of the close relations between the Royal Society, the Society of Antiquaries and freemasonry. He had been elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1714, sat to Lens in 1720, the year he joined the Antiquaries, and eventually became president of both societies. Hogarth's magnificent portrait of him, made twenty years later, is in the Royal Society collection.

Events of 1720back to top

Current affairs

Collapse of the South Sea Company's shares causes financial crisis in London and ruins many investors. Their rapid inflation and the speculation mania it had encouraged become known as the South Sea Bubble. Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend returns to the Whig ministry. Robert Walpole 1st Earl of Orford, who had resigned in 1717, also returns and restores public credit in December.

Art and science

Entrepreneur Ralph Allen is appointed to take over the Cross and Bye Posts, which manage mail not going via London, leading to his eventual reform of the entire British postal system.
History painter James Thornhill is appointed Serjeant Painter to the King and becomes the first British artist to receive a knighthood.


International

Treaty of the Hague signed between Britain, France, Austria, the Dutch Republic and Spain ending the War of the Quadruple Alliance.
In Lhasa, the Dalai Lama accepts Chinese imperial protection, which lasts until 1911.
Two political parties emerge in Sweden's parliament and become known as the Hats and the Caps.

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.