“one of the greatest scientific discoverers of all time” – Ernest Rutherford on Michael Faraday
(FARADAY, MICHAEL.) Maguire, Thomas Herbert. Michael Faraday
Ipswich, [1851]
Tinted lithograph on India paper, octagonal, mounted on card. Mount stained, lithograph in excellent condition. Signed and dated 1851 by Maguier in the image. Framed.
This is a rare early state or proof copy of this lovely portrait of Michael Faraday, the greatest figure in the history of elecromagnetism.
Thomas Herbert Maguire (1821–1895), a talented lithographer, us best known for his portraits of scientists, especially naturalists. He made this portrait as part of the series Portraits of the Honorary Members of the Ipswich Museum. The 60 portraits were privately commissioned by George Ransome, FLS, to celebrate the founding of the Ipswich Museum. They were executed between 1847 and 1852, some from life and others from photographs.
The series was then published in 1852 by M. & N. Hanhart with their imprint added. That imprint is found on the vast majority of the portraits present in the National Portrait Gallery, Wellcome Collection and British Museum. The present portrait has no imprint. Remaining in the family until now, it was printed on India paper and mounted, suggesting that it is an artist’s proof or first state.
RARE. The proof is rare. The issue published by Hanhart is in the National Portrait Gallery series; the present earlier form is in the Wellcome Collection.
Provenance: Thomas Henry Maguire, by descent through his family.
$2,800