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William Martin

1 of 17 portraits by George Patten

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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William Martin

by George Patten
watercolour and gouache on ivory, circa 1821
3 3/8 in. x 2 1/2 in. (86 mm x 64 mm) oval
Purchased, 1910
Primary Collection
NPG 1576

Sitterback to top

  • William Martin (1772-1851), Inventor and eccentric. Sitter in 1 portrait.

Artistback to top

  • George Patten (1801-1865), Artist. Artist or producer associated with 17 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

In this miniature, Martin is shown holding a book about his Martinian system of astronomy.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 415
  • Walker, Richard, Miniatures: 300 Years of the English Miniature, 1998, p. 107 Read entry

    William Martin, a brother of the painter 'Mad Martin', was fairly zany himself, spending much of his life 'discovering' perpetual motion and in the refutation of Newton's theory of gravitation. He founded the Martinean Society in 1814 in opposition to the Royal Society. Patten's miniature celebrates the publication, in 1821, of Martin's New System of Natural Philosophy on the Principle of Perpetual Motion.

  • Walker, Richard, Regency Portraits, 1985, p. 335

Subject/Themeback to top

Events of 1821back to top

Current affairs

George IV is crowned at Westminster Abbey on 19 July and Queen Caroline is turned away from the ceremony. Two weeks later she dies reawakening popular sympathy for her cause. Riots break out at her funeral as the Government attempts to reroute the procession to avoid the popular reaction of the mob.

Art and science

Thomas De Quincey publishes Confessions of an English Opium Eater in the London Magazine. A creative commentary on his mental life, it gained instant notoriety.
The Manchester Guardian (later The Guardian) established.
Michael Faraday builds the first electric motor.

International

Napoleon dies.
Revolts in Wallachia and Moldovia against the oppressive rule of the Ottoman Turks. The rebels appeal to Tsar Alexander I for help and the Greek War of Independence begins.

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