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Sir Isaac Newton

Medallion
ca. 1740-1769 (made)
Artist/Maker
Van Der Hagen, Gaspar (probably)
Place of origin
England (made)

This medallion representing Sir Isaac Newton was probably made by Gaspar van der Hagen (dided in 1769), in Britain, in about 1740-69. There is a virtually identical relief in Walters Arts Gallery, Baltimore, attributed to 'Alexander' van der Hagen. Another version is in the Royal Society, and another is in Kings College Library (Keynes Collection), Cambridge. This ivory portrait is probably derived from the so-called Conduit marble bust of Newton by John Michael Rysbrack (1694-1770), and his terracotta bust in the Wren library, Trinity College, Cambridge, signed and dated 1739. Isaac Newton was widely commemorated in busts and other forms of portraiture throughout the 18th century.


Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Coins & Medals
Portraits
Science
Object type
Medallion
TitleSir Isaac Newton (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved ivory
Ivory
Brief description
Medallion, ivory, portrait of Sir Isaac Newton, probably by Gaspar van Der Hagen, after John Michael Rysbrack, Netherlandish, produced in Britain, ca. 1740-1769
Physical description
Carved oval ivory portrait medallion of Sir Isaac Newton. The bust has the head slightly turned to the left. He wears his own hair, shirt and coat are open at the front. He has classical drapery over his right shoulder and across his chest. The head is in high relief.
Dimensions
  • Height: 12.3cm
  • Width: 10cm
Object history
Bought for £30 through Messrs. Spero and Kerin, 9 Clifford Street, New Bond Street, London, who purchased it at auction on behalf of the Museum in 1929. Previously the property of A.D. Doughty Esq., sold at Sotheby's, London, 20 June 1929, lot 100, there said to have been 'in the possession of the present owner's [Mr Doughty's] family for many years'.
Subject depicted
Newton, Isaac (Sir)
Summary
This medallion representing Sir Isaac Newton was probably made by Gaspar van der Hagen (dided in 1769), in Britain, in about 1740-69. There is a virtually identical relief in Walters Arts Gallery, Baltimore, attributed to 'Alexander' van der Hagen. Another version is in the Royal Society, and another is in Kings College Library (Keynes Collection), Cambridge. This ivory portrait is probably derived from the so-called Conduit marble bust of Newton by John Michael Rysbrack (1694-1770), and his terracotta bust in the Wren library, Trinity College, Cambridge, signed and dated 1739. Isaac Newton was widely commemorated in busts and other forms of portraiture throughout the 18th century.
Bibliographic references
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Review of the Principal Acquisitions During the Year 1929. London, pp. 9-10
  • Cf. Randell, R. H. ed. Masterpieces of ivory from the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore, 1985, p. 318, cat. no. 484
  • Cf. Graves, A. The Society of Artists of Great Britain, 1760-1791, London, 1907
  • Cf. Esdaile, K. A. The life and works of Louis François Roubiliac. London, 1928, p. 20
  • Cf. Walpole, H. Anecdotes of painters, who have resided or been born in England, with critical remarks on their productions. 1771, IV. p. 98
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, cat. no. 127
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.112-1929

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Record createdNovember 26, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O107525/sir-isaac-newton-medallion-van-der-hagen/
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