Modern Telescope Collection

The Great Astronomer Schiaparelli at the Brera Observatory (colour litho)
2798364 The Great Astronomer Schiaparelli at the Brera Observatory (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info)

Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, Vice-Admiral of the Blue (1769-1839), 1834 (oil on canvas)
7337926 Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, Vice-Admiral of the Blue (1769-1839), 1834 (oil on canvas) by Evans, Richard (1784-1871) ; 143.5x113.7 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Lieutenant Henry Fortescue (1798-1876), 1824 (Oil in canvas)
7337902 Lieutenant Henry Fortescue (1798-1876), 1824 (Oil in canvas) by Ferneley, John E. (1782-1860); 56x43.2 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Captain W.E. Parry R.N. 1821 (stipple engraving)
7295539 Captain W.E. Parry R.N. 1821 (stipple engraving) by Drummond, Samuel (1765-1844); 23x14.1 cm; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Commander of the Polar Expedition 1819-1820)

Lord Rosse's Great Reflecting Telescope, at Parsonstown, Ireland, 1853 (cotton, brass)
7340081 Lord Rosse's Great Reflecting Telescope, at Parsonstown, Ireland, 1853 (cotton, brass) by British School, (19th century); 118.3x89.2 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Rear-Admiral Sir Alexander John Ball (1757-1809), 1805-09 (oil on canvas)
7337831 Rear-Admiral Sir Alexander John Ball (1757-1809), 1805-09 (oil on canvas) by Pickersgill, Henry William (1782-1875); 127x101.6 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Reading the chronograph at Royal Observatory, Greenwich, 19th century (engraving)
7337545 Reading the chronograph at Royal Observatory, Greenwich, 19th century (engraving) by Unknown Artist, (19th century); 109.5x149.2x5 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Compass and dipleidoscope, an instrument for evaluating exact noon, composed of a small telescope and a prism
MMM5470113 Compass and dipleidoscope, an instrument for evaluating exact noon, composed of a small telescope and a prism, 1853-60 (copper); National Maritime Museum, London

Admiral of the Royal Navy, 18th century
MMM5482504 Admiral of the Royal Navy, 18th century by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Admiral of the Royal Navy, in the 18th century)

Portrait of Rear Admiral William Pierrepont (1767-1813)
MMM5480495 Portrait of Rear Admiral William Pierrepont (1767-1813) by Russell, John (1745-1806); National Maritime Museum, London

Captain Sir Edward Vernon (1723-1794), mid 18th century (oil on canvas)
7338073 Captain Sir Edward Vernon (1723-1794), mid 18th century (oil on canvas) by Hayman, Francis (1708-76); 76.2x63.5 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Nelson at Copenhagen (litho)
8671681 Nelson at Copenhagen (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Nelson at Copenhagen)

Tom Saunders, on board an Indiaman, using a glass to observe another vessel through the gunport, 1850
3330769 Tom Saunders, on board an Indiaman, using a glass to observe another vessel through the gunport, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of Tom Saunders, on board an Indiaman)

An allegory of optics, representing an eye in the center of a star, 1820 (etching)
MMM5477354 An allegory of optics, representing an eye in the center of a star, 1820 (etching); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: An allegory of optics)

View of Greenwich (England), one summer evening, from the heights of the park, at the back, the London skyline
MMM5485001 View of Greenwich (England), one summer evening, from the heights of the park, at the back, the London skyline by Cox, David, the younger (1809-85); National Maritime Museum, London

Sailor on look out, c.1855 (oil on canvas)
7337776 Sailor on look out, c.1855 (oil on canvas) by Marks, Henry Stacy (1829-98); 44.4x30.3 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Astronomical glass plate of diagram of The Royal Observatory at Cape of Good Hope (glass negative)
7342383 Astronomical glass plate of diagram of The Royal Observatory at Cape of Good Hope (glass negative) by Peers, Charles Ernest (1875-1944); National Maritime Museum, London

Greenwich (Royal Observatory), 1920s (graphite)
7341729 Greenwich (Royal Observatory), 1920s (graphite) by Wyllie, William Lionel (1851-1931); 25.4x35.3 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Sir William Henry Mahoney Christie, c.1911 (print)
7339306 Sir William Henry Mahoney Christie, c.1911 (print) by Jacomb-Hood, George Percy (1857-1930) (after); 36.7x29 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Ramages new telescope, 19th century (steel engraving)
7341592 Ramages new telescope, 19th century (steel engraving) by Read, W. (fl.1818-37); 10.8x10.2 cm; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Creator: W. P)

Searching for Halley's Comet at Greenwich Observatory, 1909 (Pen ink, monochrome watercolour, paper)
7340782 Searching for Halley's Comet at Greenwich Observatory, 1909 (Pen ink, monochrome watercolour, paper) by Robinson, William Heath (1872-1944); 42x29 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Zenith sector telescope, 1727 (iron, tin)
7340751 Zenith sector telescope, 1727 (iron, tin) by Unknown photographer, (20th century); 381x7.2 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Royal William Victualling Yard, Plymouth, from Mount Edgecombe. Inversed digital file to create b&w positive
7342528 Royal William Victualling Yard, Plymouth, from Mount Edgecombe. Inversed digital file to create b&w positive. 1845 (calotype negative, paper) by Talbot

How man learns from the human eye (litho)
8676259 How man learns from the human eye (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: How man learns from the human eye. Inventions using lenses)

Gottfried von Pappenheim, German general of the Thirty Years War (colour litho)
8655449 Gottfried von Pappenheim, German general of the Thirty Years War (colour litho) by Dyck, Anthony van (1599-1641) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Gottfried von Pappenheim (1594-1632)

Telescope, Lick Observatory; Chinese Restaurant, San Francisco (b/w photo)
8644666 Telescope, Lick Observatory; Chinese Restaurant, San Francisco (b/w photo) by American Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Telescope)

Vice-Admiral George Darby (circa 1720-1790), 1783-86 (oil on canvas)
7337877 Vice-Admiral George Darby (circa 1720-1790), 1783-86 (oil on canvas) by Romney, George (1734-1802); 243.8x152.4 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Admiral Sir John Jennings (1664-1743), 1708-09 (oil on canvas)
7337949 Admiral Sir John Jennings (1664-1743), 1708-09 (oil on canvas) by Kneller, Godfrey (1646-1723); 126.5x122 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Looking at the comet till you get a criek in the neck, 1811 (etching)
7340076 Looking at the comet till you get a criek in the neck, 1811 (etching) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); 39.2x26.5 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Mrs. Bryan and her Children, 1797 (engraving)
7340002 Mrs. Bryan and her Children, 1797 (engraving) by Shelley, Samuel (1750-1808); 29x13 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Flagmen of Lowestoft: Admiral Sir George Ayscue (active 1646-1671), 1665-66 (oil on canvas)
7337829 Flagmen of Lowestoft: Admiral Sir George Ayscue (active 1646-1671), 1665-66 (oil on canvas) by Lely, Peter (1618-80); 127x101.5 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

A Solar Eclipse in Siam, c.1700 (watercolour)
8698472 A Solar Eclipse in Siam, c.1700 (watercolour) by French School, (18th century); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France; (add.info.: Science. Astronomy)

Two pilots on surveillance, each carrying their own telescope (long view), pointed at sea
MMM5480841 Two pilots on surveillance, each carrying their own telescope (long view), pointed at sea, from the platform of a fortified building by Atkinson

Bradley telescope, commissioned by the royal astronomer John Pond (1767-1836) and built by Edward Troughton (1753-1825)
MMM5470377 Bradley telescope, commissioned by the royal astronomer John Pond (1767-1836) and built by Edward Troughton (1753-1825), 1812 (brass); National Maritime Museum, London

Portrait of John Hanning Speke, c.1863 (b/w photo)
MMM5477340 Portrait of John Hanning Speke, c.1863 (b/w photo); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Portrait of John Hanning Speke (1827-1864) on his left, a sextant on his foot

Life at sea, description of leisure moments on board boats, under the supervision of a naval officer: sailors shave
MMM5460188 Life at sea, description of leisure moments on board boats, under the supervision of a naval officer: sailors shave, draw, read (or study), play music (flute)

The Duke of Wellington K. G. late 18th to 19th century (halftone)
7342307 The Duke of Wellington K. G. late 18th to 19th century (halftone) by British School, (18th-19th century); 24.8x15 cm; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Creator: W)

Astronomical glass plate of diagram of The Royal Observatory at Cape of Good Hope (glass negative)
7342384 Astronomical glass plate of diagram of The Royal Observatory at Cape of Good Hope (glass negative) by Peers, Charles Ernest (1875-1944); National Maritime Museum, London

An astronomer with astrolabe and a telescope, 1854 (etching)
7341589 An astronomer with astrolabe and a telescope, 1854 (etching) by Rye, William Brenchley (1818-1901); 21x28.6 cm; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Creator: W.B)

Admiral Sir Peter Warren (1703-1752), 1748-52 (oil on canvas)
7338077 Admiral Sir Peter Warren (1703-1752), 1748-52 (oil on canvas) by Hudson, Thomas (1701-79); 127x101.6 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Mounting of Mr Reade's 12-ft Telescope (engraving)
8629568 Mounting of Mr Reade's 12-ft Telescope (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mounting of Mr Reade's 12-ft Telescope)

Bateau a vapeur & Chemin de Fer, 19th century (hand coloured woodcut on paper)
7485300 Bateau a vapeur & Chemin de Fer, 19th century (hand coloured woodcut on paper) by Unknown Artist, (19th century); 30x37 cm; Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Telford, Shropshire

Portrait of Captain William Hewett, c.1840 (watercolour, wood, glass)
7341584 Portrait of Captain William Hewett, c.1840 (watercolour, wood, glass) by Gregory, George T. (19th century); 38.4x33.5x6.1 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

28-inch visual refractor telescope, c.1893 (cast iron, steel)
7337584 28-inch visual refractor telescope, c.1893 (cast iron, steel) by Grubb, Howard (1844-1931); 820x0 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

The original astronomical observations made in the course of a voyage towards the South Pole
7337577 The original astronomical observations made in the course of a voyage towards the South Pole, and around the world in His Majesty's ships the Resolution and Adventure

Three figures using astronomical equipment in the Great Star Room or the Octagon Room, as it is known today
7342715 Three figures using astronomical equipment in the Great Star Room or the Octagon Room, as it is known today, at the Royal Observatory

Marine spotting scope (Longview), with marine signal flag code, c.1810 (object)
MMM5476130 Marine spotting scope (Longview), with marine signal flag code, c.1810 (object); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Marine spotting scope (Longview)

Retractable telescope and its foot, which belonged to the Reverend George Fischer (1794-1873)
MMM5476392 Retractable telescope and its foot, which belonged to the Reverend George Fischer (1794-1873), c.1815 (mahogany and copper); National Maritime Museum, London

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"The Evolution of the Modern Telescope: From Galileo's Trial to Cutting-Edge Discoveries" Science and astronomy have always been intertwined, with the telescope serving as a gateway to unraveling the mysteries of our universe. In 1633, during Galileo Galilei's trial, his revolutionary discoveries through telescopic observations challenged traditional beliefs. Nicolo Barabino's postcard from c. 1900 captures this pivotal moment in history. Throughout the 19th century, visionaries like John Milton and Galileo Galilei continued to push boundaries. Engravings by unknown artists depict their contributions that paved the way for future advancements. Intricate illustrations by George Barbier showcase not only artistic beauty but also scientific progress. These images capture both imagination and innovation, reminding us of how far we've come. Adam Duncan, Viscount Duncan of Camperdown, played a significant role in funding astronomical research during this era. His support allowed scientists like Leon Foucault to develop groundbreaking telescopes such as Foucault's Telescope in 1862. Engravings immortalize Sir Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel, whose tireless efforts revolutionized observational astronomy. His portrait serves as a reminder of his remarkable achievements and lasting impact on our understanding of celestial bodies. Hugh Lofting's illustrated book "The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle" transports readers into a world where science fiction meets reality through imaginative storytelling. This work highlights how literature has inspired curiosity about space exploration throughout history. A Scottish-looking letter "F" symbolizes Scotland's contribution to scientific endeavors—a nod to its rich heritage in astronomy and discovery. Metamorphic dwarf library bookcases from 1811 demonstrate how even furniture design was influenced by scientific progress during this time period—an embodiment of society's fascination with all things related to space exploration. Portraits like Captain Charles Bridgeman remind us that individuals from various backgrounds have contributed significantly to advancing our knowledge about the cosmos.