Royal Society of Medicine

“ It is possible that the portrait was expressly painted for the College and it may have been a gift from Harvey himself. It is a pleasing picture spoilt by the right hand, which is so painted as to make it seem deformed.
The painter Cornelius Janssen or Janson van Keulen (1590-1664) lived in England from about 1618, until 1648, and was for the whole of that time a popular portrait painter. There are several reputed Janssen portraits of Harvey, some at least of which may have been painted as replicas by one or other of Janssen’s pupils. ”

“ It is a three-quarter length on canvas measuring 4 ft. 31⁄2 in. by 3 ft. 41⁄2 in., and represents Harvey standing and leaning lightly upon a crutch stick which he holds in his right hand, whilst in his left is a handkerchief with a gold fringe. He is dressed soberly in black with the plain white collar. The hair is iron-grey and long, as we know that he usually wore it. The face is small, drawn, pointed, with a good strong brow and forehead and a delicate mouth, shaded but not concealed by the small moustache and slightly peaked beard. ”

“ On the top shelf are two skulls, a square case upon which stands a stoppered phial filled with some red substance, and four earthenware jars whose mouths are closed with parchment covers tied on. The picture is unsigned. It is painted in the traditional style, where much attention was paid to the minute details of dress and accessories, so that the work became almost that of a miniaturist. The face is clearly that of Harvey, a little lined, beard and moustache of the usual cut, hair worn long, partly hidden by a skull-cap. ”

“ Head and shoulders, to the right, nearly full face; wearing a dark gown with wide falling collar and tassels loosely tied. The face is thoughtful, with a full moustache and pointed beard. Head covered with a skull-cap allowing the hair to escape below it and exposing a wide brow. The canvas is signed very obscurely in the corner, just above the right shoulder, ‘C. J. 1641’. It is attributed to Janssen and was bought by Mr. Erich at a sale. It appears doubtful whether the portrait represents Dr. William Harvey. ”

“ The section of the History of Medicine owes its best thanks to those gentlemen who have allowed photographs to be made of the portraits in their possession, as well as to Mr. William Fleming of the Royal College of Physicians of London, to Mr. ”

“ This portrait is stated in C. R. Weed’s Descriptive Catalogue of the Portraits in the Possession of the Royal Society, 1860, p. 36, to be by De Reyn, but in the numerous engravings of it the painter is given as Janssen. It was presented to the Royal Society by the Rev. John Mapletoft, M.D. (1631-1721) , who was elected F.R.S. February 10, 1675-6. The collotype is made from a steel engraving of the picture. ”

“ The photograph from which the collotype was made was kindly lent by Dr. Matthew Hay, Professor of Forensic Medicine and Public Health in the University of Aberdeen.
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BODLEIAN LIBRARY PORTRAIT
The Bodleian Library at Oxford contains a portrait of William Harvey ascribed to J. Wollaston. It is a bust, three-quarters to left; long grey hair, brushed back off the forehead, grey moustache and tuft on chin; face deeply lined; white falling collar with tassel; black gown; painted in an oval spandrel. A canvas 30 in. by 25 in. ”