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Sir Isaac Newton, line engraving by A. M. Monsaldi after Seeman, 1726

A. M. Monsaldi, after Enoch Seeman · 1726

An engraving of Newton made in 1726 after a portrait by Enoch Seeman, created while Newton was alive.

A lifetime engraving of Newton copying Enoch Seeman's portrait, with a French caption noting his dates.

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Black-and-white line engraving portrait of a man with long wavy hair, wearing a dark coat and white cravat, turned slightly to the left. Below the image: caption 'Isaac Newton' and 'Né en 1643 mort en 1726', with a small engraver credit line.
A. M. Monsaldi, Isaac Newton (after Enoch Seeman, 1726), line engraving, 1726. Wellcome Collection.

About this source

What it is

This line engraving by A. M. Monsaldi, made in 1726, copies a portrait of Isaac Newton painted by Enoch Seeman. It shows Newton with long wavy hair, a dark coat and white cravat, turned slightly to one side. It is held by the Wellcome Collection.

Why it matters

Made in the last year of Newton's life, this print is part of a long tradition of engraved copies after painted portraits, which spread images of famous thinkers across Europe. The French caption beneath the image shows how Newton's fame reached beyond Britain.

Look closer

  • Why might the caption be written in French rather than English?
  • What details in the engraving suggest it was meant to circulate widely, rather than stay as a single painting?
  • How does this portrait compare to other engravings made around the same year?

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.

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Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica

Isaac Newton · 1687

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Principia Mathematica, Page 1: Definitions

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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

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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

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

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

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