Accession No
5989
Brief Description
portrait of Nicholas Saunderson, blind scientist and mathematician who was Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, attributed to John Vanderbank, circa 1720
Origin
[England]
Maker
Vanderbank, John (attributed)
Class
mathematics; prints
Earliest Date
1720
Latest Date
1720
Inscription Date
Material
cloth (canvas); paint (oil); wood
Dimensions
portrait: height 335mm; width 261mm in frame: height 482mm; width 398mm; depth 22mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Purchased from Gregory Page-Turner, Artware, 18 La Gare, 51 Surrey Row, London, SE1 OBZ on or before 21/01/2004.
Inscription
label on reverse:
NICHOLAS SAUNDERSON
Mathematician born at Thurlstone in Yorkshire, 1682. Lost his sight when 12 months old from small-pox, but was sent to the free school at Pennistone where he made great proficiency in Classical learning. At the age of 18 he was introduced to Mr West a mathematician who introduced him in algebra & geometry & he made such progress that friends sent him to Cambridge where he delivered lectures on mathematics to crowded audiences. Having been made M.A. by Royal mandate he was appointed Lucasian Professor of Mathematics in 1711: and in 1738 he recieved the degree of L.L.D. He died 1739.
Portrait by J. Vanderbank 1718 - Engraved by G. Vander Gucht, mezzotint by G. White
Description Notes
portrait of Nicholas Saunderson, attributed to John Vanderbank; circa 1720.
Oil on canvas portrait of Nicholas Saunderson with original stretchers. Saunderson is depicted in clerical costume and holding an armillary sphere. The painting is framed in a non-original black and gold edged frame.
The portrait is unsigned but attributed to John Vanderbank after his larger version of this portrait which hangs in the Old Schools, Cambridge.
References
Events
Description
Portrait of Nicholas Saunderson
Attributed to John Vanderbank. English, c.1720
This oil portrait shows the mathematician Nicholas Saunderson holding an armillary sphere. It is attributed to John Vanderbank after his larger version that hangs in the Old Schools, University of Cambridge.
Saunderson was a mathematician born in Thurlstone, Yorkshire in 1682. He lost his sight at 12 months old, from smallpox, but was taught mathematics by his father, who was a tax collector.
In 1707 he went to Cambridge as a tutor to his friend Joshua Dunn at Christ's College. Saunderson's skills as a teacher became widely recognised and he delivered lectures on mathematics to crowded audiences.
Having been awarded a Master of Arts degree by Royal mandate, Saunderson was appointed as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics in 1711.
28/01/2004
Created by: Ruth Horry on 28/01/2004
FM:46455
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