One of the most famous portraits of Charles Darwin (1809-82), one of the greatest scientists to have ever lived. So famous that his achievements barely required mention. The accompanying biography states that ‘Among these theories one of the most striking is that which Mr. Darwin has given to the world with reference to the Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection.’ He became famous following his voyage on the ‘Beagle’ which led ultimately to the publication of ‘On the Origin of Species’, in 1859. He is depicted propped up on a cushion on his chair with wheels which he used to move around his office. His son Francis recalled ‘He had his chair in the study and in the drawing-room raised so as to be much higher than ordinary chairs . . . sitting on a low or even an ordinary chair caused him much discomfort.’ The University of Cambridge preserves Darwin’s archive and amongst the letters are references to this portrait.

His portrait was very much desired for Vanity Fair, so wrote John Murray (Darwin’s publisher) to Darwin, 10 May 1871. Darwin’s initial reaction was ‘I could not endure to give sittings to his artists.’. Eventually he was convinced and although the finished print is unsigned documentary evidence points to the artist being the famous Frenchman James Tissot (1836-1902). Portraits of Darwin are normally quite stark, here a congenial image is portrayed of a relaxed man.

This print was published in ‘Vanity Fair’ for 30 September 1871. Its owner Thomas Gibson Bowles (1841-1922) was brought up in a bohemian household and after a short period in the civil service became a journalist. In 1868 he began his own society journal and called it ‘Vanity Fair’. On 30 January 1869 he introduced the first full paged coloured caricature, of Benjamin Disraeli, and sales never looked back. In the words of Matthews and Mellini it was ‘the most successful Society magazine in the history of English journalism’. Provenance: private American collection. Arlott (1952); Harris & Ormond (1976); Matthews & Mellini (1982); ODNB; Savory (1979).