| Portrait of William Herschel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Lemuel Francis Abbott. |
| Year | 1785 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, portrait painting |
| Dimensions | 76.2 cm× 63.5 cm(30.0 in× 25.0 in) |
| Location | National Portrait Gallery, London |
Portrait of William Herschel is a 1785 portrait painting by the British artist Lemuel Francis Abbott. It depicts the German-born British astronomer and composer William Herschel. [1] [2] [3] Herschel is best known for discovering the planet Uranus in 1781, which he initially named Georgium Sidus after George III.
Herschel sat at the request of his friend William Watson. The painting is now in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery in London, having been acquired in 1860. In 1788 an engraving was produced by Thomas Ryder based on the picture. A replica of the painting was produced for the Bath Literary and Philosophical Institution. [4]
