The Royal Institution, venue for the upcoming bloggers’ conference, has some unusual furnishings. Here’s a scene from their new wall of fame, which depicts the great and good of science in often surreal poses.
This is perhaps the least peculiar panel. Can we name the six scientists?
UPDATE: I just heard that these are not scientists, but architects and benefactors connected with the Ri. Hope that helps.
Is the one the far right meant to be Richard Gregory?
I recognise the one next ti him, but can’t think of his name…
I don’t have the answers to this one, so I can join in…
I thought the one on the far right was Sydney Brenner.
Wow. I got nothing on this. The one on the left kind of looks like George Washington, but I am pretty sure it’s not him.
Having just Googled a picture of Sydney Brenner, Matt, I am not so sure it’s him.
Is the chap on the far left Benjamin Thompson, aka Count Rumford, the talented and colourful founder of the RI?
Wow, I’d never heard of that chap. What a character.
What’s Rudy Giuliani doing in there?
From the left, Christopher Plummer, Karl Marx, Chris Surridge, Solly Zuckerman, Stephen Hawking and George Clooney.
I will buy a round for each one of these that is correct (as I am pretty certain that none of them is right).
As usual, I will express my predictable but nonetheless justified disgust that 6 of the 6 unidentifiable people are clearly male and white. When is anyone going to learn?
depicts the great and good of science in often surreal poses. This is perhaps the least peculiar panel.
What are the other panels? Newton and Leibniz doing pilates? Watson, Crick, Franklin and Wilkins doing ceroc dancing? Please say yes…
Almost. There’s a squatting Lord Winston, for starters.
I’m planning on putting another one up soon. But first you have to guess at least some of this batch. I think Stephen has the chap in the periwig.
In that case I suppose they could all be past RI presidents (which accounts for lack of women, as the current incumbent has broken a mould there). But none of them looks the remotest bit like George Porter.
Stephen, I like your theory about Lord Rumford, but I think the one three from the left is actually you (and not me as Maxine proposed).
Well, at least “you” are the handsomest one, Chris. Or is that George Clooney? Hard to say, but you are both very handsome, anyway.
Second from the left looks like Great Cthulhu.
@Chris: Stephen, I like your theory about Lord Rumford, but I think the one three from the left is actually you
How dare you, sir! I’ll forgive you that only on the grounds that it’s been a long time since we met, but I’ll have you know I’ve become devastatingly handsome in my dotage!
And Rumford was a Count, not a Lord: the title was bestowed by his Bavarian patron when he briefly held the position of acting-Holy Roman Emperor. What it is to have friends in high places…
Bonus point to anyone who can suggest what the character on the far right is scribbling on his neighbour’s back.
And another point to whoever can work out what Chris-Stephen is doing with that yellow think that looks like either a lemon or a piece of kryptonite?
Ooo, ooo, second from the left. Is it Ludwig Mond?
After searching through some lists of scientists, I’m almost convinced that the third from the left is an unflattering rendition of Sir Humphry Davy , holding a Davy lamp of his own invention.
What? BUt Davy is one of the most handsome scientists in… well, in the portrait collection of the Royal Society anyway. unflattering doesn’t begin to describe it.
I can see where you’re coming from, Eva. But two things suggest it might not be Davy. (1) The guy in the painting seems to be wearing a 20th century suit. (2) Davy is one of the Royal Institution’s most famous sons, so it would seem odd to relegate him to the back row.
Ah, Scott, but as pointed out above, man with yellow taco shell is the most handsome in this particular portrait (whether he looks most like Chris, Stephen or Humphry Davy).
Unless there are any late-breaking advocates for George Clooney on the far right.
Following on from Eva’s clue, I was going to guess that one of the gentlemen is Faraday, but I dimly think the one that looks least unlike him in this lot is the one on the far left, and you’ve already identified him, so I give up (again).
PS Matt, can you ask Charles Darwin to join us? I expect he is acquainted with them all so should be able to put us out of our misery if you won’t. (To borrow a suggestion made by Brian Clegg in Henry’s caption competition, we need the excitement of a deadline.)
Will do. But as I said up top, I don’t know the answers either.
I almost had a great one for a second caption competition, but the critters mooved before I could get the shot. Who’d be a wildlife photographer, eh?
Does anyone think that the items above these gentlemen’s heads might have anything to do with their identity? Not that that helps much as I can’t identify those either: An evacuated vessel that is being used as a cloud chamber? A computer chip? Some form of mechanical Fourier analyser?
Oh, I thought they were things you could win in the crackers (on sale underneath the portrait, just out of shot). Picture frame, plastic glass, mini-meccano set, comb, etc.
I think the one on the right looks like either Burt Reynolds in Boogie Nights or Roddy McDowell in Planet of the Apes. But I’m pretty sure that neither has ever been professionally associated with the RI
The one in the middle (4th from left) looks like Robin Cook, deceased UK Labour MP.
I doubt he had any professional connection with the RI either.
You’re clearly all struggling – I’ll see if the Ri can give me the answers. I’ll put the next installment up tomorrow. A few more faces on that one.
I think the guys (white men as Maxine said… obviously, they are to be from dark times of slavery etc.) are not who they originally should be… simply, if the “standard” (well-known) portraits would be used, there would be certainity about who they are. Now, we can say: the guys are citizens of the painters imagination (I am not, however, sure if it is sufficiently courteous towards the painter…).
Ah, Scott, but as pointed out above, man with yellow taco shell is the most handsome in this particular portrait
No, Scott was saying that person’s portrait was ugly.
Second from right looks a bit like Maurice Wilkes, but I don’t know of any connection between him and the Ri. Hmm… face is familiar though.
I think Eva is right with Humphrey Davy (and his lamp) as the 3rd from left, despite the poor likeness. Matt – who is your tailor? The collar on Davy’s suit is more 18th/19th Century than 20th…!
The guy on the far right does resemble Brenner but he never had quite that much hair on top. But then I don’t think we can rely much on the artist’s ability to render a decent likeness…
I’m sure I’ve met the chap second from the right, he has similarities to Max Perutz, Maurice Wilkins and Eric Ash but none is quite right.
Woohoo, you propelled me into the Most Commented posts section for the first time ever. Thanks Chris!
Scott, yes indeed, but in comparison with the others in this portrait, the most handsome?
Wilkins, yes, could be possible though as pointed out, a King’s man not RI so far as I’m aware. Maybe he’s a Watson-Crick-Wilkins-Pertuz composite? Or Mash-Up?!
There you are, Matt, another comment for you.
I got some clues out of the Royal Institution. The first thing to note is that these are not scientists, but architects and benefactors connected with the Ri. Does that help anyone? And here’s an elongated version of the image.
Lord Snowdon on the right?