Polymath Collection (#5)

Benjamin Franklin, 1706 To 1790. One Of The Founding Fathers Of The United States, Polymath, Author, Printer, Satirist, Political Theorist, Politician, Postmaster, Scientist, Inventor

Portrait of Sir Frederick William Herschel (1738- 1822), 1785. Creator: Lemuel Abbott (1760-1802)
Portrait of Sir Frederick William Herschel (1738- 1822), 1785 (oil on canvas). Sir John Frederick William Herschel (1792)

Leonardo on his death bed. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Italian polymath: painter, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, and writer

Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790, 1934. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Franklin was a renowned polymath and a leading author, printer

Galilei 1564-1642, 1934. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), Italian polymath: astronomer, physicist, engineer, philosopher and mathematician. From Die Groszen der Weltgelchichte

Edward Marshs living-room, c1934. The living room of Sir Edward Howard Marsh (1872-1953) at 5 Raymond Buildings Grays Inn. Marsh was a British polymath, translator, arts patron and civil servant

John Arbuthnot, Scottish physician, satirist, mathematician and polymath (1906). Arbuthnot (1667-1735) was the inventor of the figure of John Bull

Christiaan Huygens, 17th century Dutch mathematician, astronomer and physicist, c1870. Artist: JH Rennefeld
Christiaan Huygens, 17th century Dutch mathematician, astronomer and physicist, c1870. Huygens (1629-1695) made important contributions in several scientific fields

Self Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci, c1512-1515 (1954). Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Self Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci, c1512-1515 (1954). Found in the collection of the Biblioteca Reale in Turin. A print from Leonardo da Vinci by Ludwig H Heydenreich. (London, 1954)

John Selden, English jurist, antiquary and oriental scholar, (c1850). Portrait of Selden (1584-1654), a polymath saluted by John Milton as the chief of learned men reputed in this land

Christiaan Huygens, Dutch physicist, mathematician and astronomer, 1762. Huygens made important contributions in several scientific fields

Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695), Dutch physicist, mathematician and astronomer, c1870. Huygens made important contributions in several scientific fields

Jean Sylvain Bailly (1736-1793), French astronomer, writer and politician
Jean Sylvain Bailly (1736-1793) French astronomer, writer and politician. Bailly was a member of all the three great French academies, the Academie des Sciences

Sir Henry Thompson, British surgeon
Sir Henry Thompson (1820-1904), 1st Baronet, British surgeon and polymath. 1889

Averroes (1126-1198). Andalusian Muslim polymath. Portrait
Averroes (1126-1198). Ibn Rushd. Medieval Andalusian Muslim polymath. Portrait. Averroes in his studio. Engraving at Colliget Venetis (1530). Colored

Bust of Benjamin Franklin (marble)
XIR488869 Bust of Benjamin Franklin (marble) by Caffieri, Jean-Jacques (1725-92); Bibliotheque Mazarine, Paris, France; (add.info)

Conrad Gesner (engraving)
XJF393865 Conrad Gesner (engraving) by Swiss School, (16th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Konrad Gessner (1516-65)

John Selden, 1672 (engraving)
XJF359052 John Selden, 1672 (engraving) by English School, (17th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: John Selden (1584-1616)

Jose Echegaray y Eizaguirre, from La Ilustracion Espanola y Americana of 1881
KW349644 Jose Echegaray y Eizaguirre, from La Ilustracion Espanola y Americana of 1881 (litho) by Spanish School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Dinner Table at Sanssouci, 1850 (oil on canvas)
XPH324163 Dinner Table at Sanssouci, 1850 (oil on canvas) by Menzel, Adolph Friedrich Erdmann von (1815-1905); Schloss Sanssouci, Potsdam, Brandenburg

Thomas Jefferson, engraved by Michael Sokolnicki (1760-1816) (aquatint)
KW315677 Thomas Jefferson, engraved by Michael Sokolnicki (1760-1816) (aquatint) by Kosciuszko, Tadeusz (1746-1817) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

John Selden, from The National and Domestic History of England by William
KW329936 John Selden, from The National and Domestic History of England by William Hickman Smith Aubrey (1858-1916) published London, c.1890 (litho) by English School

Leonardo Da Vinci (litho)
KW271383 Leonardo Da Vinci (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: da Vinci (1452-1519; ); Ken Welsh; English, out of copyright

Robert Hookes Microscope
Full-size copy of Robert Hookes Compound Microscope - held at the Science Museum, London. Hooke, an English natural philosopher, architect and polymath (1635-1703) - author of Micrographia (1665)

Rabindranath Tagore, Indias most famous poet. 6 February 1925

Study for a warriors head. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) Italian High Renaissance polymath and artist

Symbolism and modern science. Frontispiece of Ars Magna Lucis and Umbra by Athanasius Kircher (Amsterdam, 1671). Traditional Hermetic/Alchemical symbols are mixed with a telescope

Abja Alja al-jausayn ibn Abd Alljah ibn Sjanja, known as Abja Alja Sjanja known in English by his Latinized name Avicenna (c)

Kirchers museum in Rome, 17th century
Kirchers museum in Rome. 17th-century artwork of German Jesuit scholar Athanasius Kircher (circa 1601-1680, at right) showing visitors around the museum of curiosities he established in Rome

Lomonosov observing transit of Venus C016 / 8382
Painting showing Lomonosov observing the transit of Venus across the solar disk on 26 May 1761. Mikhail Lomonosov (1711-65) was a Russian astronomer and polymath

Lomonosov manuscript C016 / 8383
Manuscript by Lomonosov of his notes on chemistry and optics. Mikhail Lomonosov (1711-65) was a Russian astronomer and polymath

Textbooks owned by Lomonosov C016 / 2704
Textbooks owned by Lomonosov. The larger book is Arithmetics by Leonty Magnitsky, the smaller is Melety Smotritskys Slavonic Grammar

Draft map made by Lomonosov C016 / 2705
Map drawn by Lomonosov. This is a manuscript of a map of the region around Kholmogory, near Arkhangelsk, close to Lomonosovs birthplace

Torbole - Lake Garda, Italy - Goethe memorial tablet
In the end of the 1786 summer Goethe, starting his travels in Italy, stopped in Torbole, leaving in his writings a longing and passionate recollection of the town

Mikhail Lomonosov, Russian scientist
A reproduction of a portrait of Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov

Mikhail Lomonosov, Russian polymath
Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov (1711-1765), Russian polymath. Born in a remote fishing village, Lomonosov went to Moscow to gain his education, later studying in St Petersburg, and in Germany

17th Century science publication. Front page of Natural magick... wherein are set forth all the riches and delights of the natural sciences published in 1658 by the Italian polymath John Baptista

Athanasius Kircher, German scholar
Athanasius Kircher (circa 1601-1680), German Jesuit scholar. Kircher worked in numerous different areas, including oriental studies, geology and medicine

Giambattista della Porta, Italian scholar
Giambattista della Porta (circa 1535-1615), Italian scholar and polymath. Della Porta wrote on a vide variety of subjects, including cryptography, physiognomy, meteorology, optics, astronomy

Marguerite de la Sabliere, arts patron
Marguerite de la Sabliere (c.1636-1693), French arts patron. De la Sabliere was a friend and patron of artists, writers and scientists

Johannes Trithemius, German polymath
Johannes Trithemius (1462-1516), German abbot and polymath. Born as Johann Heidenberg at Trittenheim, he studied at Heidelberg

Giambattista della Porta Italian polymath
Giambattista della Porta (1535-1615), Italian scholar and polymath. Della Porta was born near Naples into a noble family and was tutored by the many learned visitors his father entertained

Modern Athenians plate 34 - Edinburgh
The Rev. Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847) Scottish mathematician and a leader of the Free Church of Scotland, passing fellow churchman Rev

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German writer and polymath. His writings include poetry, drama, literature, theology, philosophy and science

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"Unveiling the Minds of Polymaths: A Glimpse into the Renaissance of Knowledge" In Rembrandt's masterpiece, "Aristotle with a Bust of Homer, " we witness the embodiment of a polymath. Aristotle, renowned philosopher and scientist, pays homage to Homer, the legendary poet. This painting captures the essence of intellectual versatility that defines a true polymath. Leonardo da Vinci, an epitome of brilliance during the Italian Renaissance, exemplifies this concept. From his iconic artwork like "La Belle Ferronnière" to his scientific inquiries into anatomy and engineering marvels like flying machines, Leonardo's multifaceted genius transcends boundaries. The Reverend William Whewell portrays another facet of polymathy in his portrait. As a theologian, scientist, and philosopher known for coining terms such as "scientist" itself, he symbolizes how diverse fields can intertwine harmoniously within one individual. Continuing our exploration into Leonardo's repertoire reveals "Virgin of T. " Herein lies evidence that even religious devotion did not hinder his pursuit of knowledge across various domains – from art to science – proving that true they are driven by insatiable curiosity. Lord Howard de Walden dons fencing attire in W. Howard Robinson's illustration while declaring himself as someone who fights for what he believes in. This portrayal highlights how physical prowess complements intellectual acumen in those who embody multiple talents. C. P Snow further substantiates this notion through his achievements as a physicist and novelist while serving as a civil servant. His ability to navigate different realms showcases how polymaths contribute uniquely to society through their versatile skill sets. Delving deeper into Leonardo's anatomical drawings reveals "The Muscles. " These meticulous studies demonstrate how understanding human physiology was just one aspect among countless others that fascinated him—a testament to his boundless intellect. Studying St. John the Baptist by Leonardo unravels yet another layer of his polymathic nature.