Portrait of William Thomson, Baron Kelvin of Largs (1824-1907) William Quiller Orchardson

Kelvin is shown seated, three-quarter length, full face holding a characteristic blue notebook in his left hand. Dressed in an open black jacket and waistcoat exposing a watch-chain. With grey trousers and wearing a red tie. A wooden turned arm of the chair is visible at the sitter's left hand and a red seat cover. The painting is noted an article by Kenneth Romney Towndrow (1900-1953): "The tonal unity Orchardson perfected by his method of painting into a yellow ground has a refinement apt to invite oversight; as, also, do his small figure compositions. This should not prevent our appreciation of such a concentration of character as in the Society's Lord Kelvin, with hands of a sensitive refinement in painting worthy of the most respectful study". [K.R. Towndrow, "Towards a revaluation of Victorian painting", The Studio, April 1953, pp.115-126. RS copy in Press Cuttings vol Aug 1952-May1953]. William Thomson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1851, he served as its President from 1890 to 1895.

Original: oil on canvas, 1004x915mm. 1899