James Smithson

Object Details

Artist

James Roberts, 1753 - c. 1809

Sitter

James Smithson, c. 1765 - 1829

Exhibition Label

Born Paris, France

British scientist James Smithson laid the groundwork for the largest museum and research complex in the world, the Smithsonian Institution. Although Smithson had no apparent connection to the United States, he bequeathed most of his fortune “to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an Establishment for the increase & diffusion of knowledge.”

During a career dedicated to the study of chemistry and mineralogy, Smithson published dozens of scientific papers. In 1787, he became the youngest person admitted to the Royal Society, Britain’s premier scientific academy. This portrait represents Smithson at the age of twenty-one, dressed in academic robes after receiving a master’s degree from Oxford University. It was once owned by his servant, John Fitall, who shares with the United States the distinction of being named in Smithson’s will. Smithson bequeathed him an annual sum of one hundred pounds “in consideration of his attachment & fidelity to me.”

Nacido en París, Francia

El científico británico James Smithson sentó las bases para el museo y complejo de investigación más grande del mundo, la Smithsonian Institution. Aunque sin vínculos aparentes con Estados Unidos, legó la mayor parte de su fortuna “para fundar en Washington, con el nombre de Smithsonian Institution, una entidad destinada al cultivo y la difusión del conocimiento”.

Durante una carrera dedicada al estudio de la química y la mineralogía, Smithson publicó docenas de artículos científicos. En 1787 pasó a ser la persona más joven admitida a la Royal Society, principal academia científica británica. Este retrato lo muestra a los 21 años con su toga académica, después de recibir un título de maestría de la Universidad de Oxford. La obra perteneció una vez al sirviente de Smithson, John Fitall, quien comparte con Estados Unidos la distinción de haber sido nombrado en su testamento. Smithson le legó una suma anual de 100 libras “en consideración de su apego y fidelidad hacia mí”.

Provenance

Mrs. Fitall, widow of Smithson’s servant John; sold through (H.P. Bohn) to Smithsonian,1849; accessioned by NPG 1996

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

1786

Object number

NPG.96.28

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

Painting

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

Frame: 59.7 x 47 x 7.6cm (23 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 3")

Place

United Kingdom\England

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

Exhibition

2022 Rehang of Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900

On View

NPG, East Gallery 136

National Portrait Gallery

Topic

Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair

Printed Material\Book

Exterior\Landscape

Costume\Academic\Cap and gown

James Smithson: Male

James Smithson: Education\Founder

James Smithson: Science and Technology\Scientist\Chemist

Portrait

Record ID

npg_NPG.96.28

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4a409d0c6-9c3e-41b2-9a4b-a746b7decbe7