DRAFT

5837

Sir James Hopwood Jeans 1924

Seated half-length to the right, wearing a suit and tie, his left arm resting on the arm of a chair

Oil on canvas, 86.4 x 63.5 cm (34 x 25 in.)

Inscribed lower left: de László / 1924. I.

Laib No.: L11283(882) / C13(31)  M. [sic] Jean ?

Sitters’ Book II, f. 38: J. H. Jeans / Jan. 1. 1924.

The Royal Society, London, on permanent loan from the sitter’s family

A reproduction of this portrait remains in the collection of a descendant of the artist.

Sir James Hopwood Jeans (1877-1946), scientist and author, O.M., 1939, Kt., cr. 1928, Hon. Fellow Institute of Physics; Hon. Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, F.R.S., Professor of Astronomy in the Royal Institution; Member Advisory Council of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1924-29 and 1934-39; Member of Royal Commission for the 1851 Exhibition, and Chairman of Science Committee. He was born in 1877, son of W.T. Jeans of London, he was educated at Merchant Taylors’ School and Trinity College, Cambridge (Fellow 1901, Hon. Fellow 1942).

During 1904 he became University Lecturer in Mathematics as well as Professor of Applied Mathematics at Princeton University 1904-9. In 1907 he married Charlotte Tiffany, daughter of Alfred Mitchell of New London, Connecticut.  She was a collector, very much liking to support artists of her day.  She died in 1934. Between 1910-12 he was Stokes Lecturer in Applied Mathematics at Cambridge University he went on to become:  Secretary of the Royal Society 1919-29; Research Associate Mt. Wilson Observatory 1923-44; President of the Royal Astronomical Society 1925-27; President of the British Association for the Advancement of Science 1934; President of the Indian Science Congress Association of the Royal Society 1919; Gold Medal of The Royal Astronomical Society 1922; Franklin Medal of the Franklin Institute 1931. He was awarded the Mukerjee Medal of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science 1937 and the Calcutta Medal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal 1938.

Sir James was best known for his scientific writing and lectures, original and often very technical. In later years an increasing proportion of his books popularised science and astronomy, such as: The Universe Around Us, The Stars in their Courses, Through Space and Time and Science and Music.

He found his recreation in walking but it was his love of music that brought him together with Susi, daughter of Oskar Hock of Vienna. Thirty-four years his junior, she was a concert organist and became his second wife in 1935.  Together they had three children and in his later years he spent much of his time enjoying his young family.  

PROVENANCE:

Lady Jeans, wife of the sitter