Skip to main content

Primary sourcePaintingc. 1712

Portrait of Sir Isaac Newton

James Thornhill · c. 1712

An oil painting of Newton made during his lifetime, showing him as an elderly, respected figure.

This portrait shows Newton as he appeared in later life, painted during his own lifetime.

Ask Isaac Newton about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
Oil painting of an elderly man with white hair seated in a gold and brown robe with a green-patterned sash, pointing with his right index finger, in front of a large stone column.
James Thornhill, Portrait of Sir Isaac Newton, c. 1712.

About this source

What it is

This oil painting of Isaac Newton was made by the artist James Thornhill around 1712, while Newton was still alive. It shows him seated, dressed in a fine robe, pointing with his hand, with a stone column behind him.

Why it matters

By 1712 Newton was already famous as a scientist and held important public positions. A portrait like this, painted by a well-known artist of the day, shows how society of the time wanted to present him: dignified, wealthy and authoritative, rather than as a working scientist with instruments.

Look closer

  • What does Newton's clothing and pose suggest about how he wanted to be seen?
  • Why might the artist have included a stone column in the background?
  • What is missing from this portrait that might tell us about Newton's scientific work?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Isaac Newton on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

More Isaac Newton sources

Meet the AI Isaac Newton →
Title page of the 1687 first edition of Newton's Principia. Large capitals read PHILOSOPHIÆ NATURALIS PRINCIPIA MATHEMATICA, with author credit, Imprimatur by S. Pepys, dated Julii 5, 1686, and London printing by Josephi Streater, Anno MDCLXXXVII.Book

Primary source

Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica

Isaac Newton · 1687

Title page with a page number marked [1] at top, reading PHILOSOPHIAE NATURALIS Principia MATHEMATICA, followed by the heading Definitiones and Def. I, with a Latin definition of quantity of matter in italic type. Faint bleed-through text from the reverse page is visible.Book

Primary source

Principia Mathematica, Page 1: Definitions

Isaac Newton · 1687

Black-and-white line engraving of an elderly man with long, wavy white hair seated in a dark armchair, wearing a dark coat, waistcoat, and white cravat, with his hands resting on his knee. A column appears at the right. Inscribed beneath: 'ISAACUS NEWTON EQ. AUR. ÆT. 83', with 'I. Vanderbank pinxit 1725' at lower left and 'Geo. Vertue Sculpsit 1726' at lower right.Painting

Primary source

Sir Isaac Newton, line engraving by Vertue, 1726

George Vertue · 1726

Engraved diagram on a cream page within a book, showing a curved comet path from Sol at left, with dated positions such as Nov. 25, Dec. 12, Jan. 5 and Mar. 5, labeled orbit lines and a sphere intersection line.Document

Primary source

Principia Mathematica, Fold-out Diagram

Isaac Newton · 1687

Engraved portrait of Sir Isaac Newton, a man with long curled wig and dark robe, bust-length, against a shaded background. Caption below reads 'SIR ISAAC NEWTON' and publisher 'William Collins Glasgow & London'.Painting

Primary source

Sir Isaac Newton, stipple engraving by J. Scott after Kneller, 1702

J. Scott, after Sir Godfrey Kneller · 1702 (print made later)

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Isaac Newton now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for freeGet a quote for institutions