Lot 209: Guglielmo Faija (Italian, 1803-died circa 1861) Michael Faraday (1791–1867), wearing black suit, grey waistcoat, white chemise and black stock

Michael Faraday (1791–1867), wearing black suit, grey waistcoat, white chemise and black stock.
Watercolour on paper, signed on the obverse and dated Faija 1841, gilded composition frame, inscribed on the reverse, Dυr. H. Bence Jones' autograph above./ miniature of M. Faraday in/ 1841 signed 'Feijer' of/ whom nothing is known./ In the collection of Sir James South F.R.S./ bought at sale of his goods by/ Mr. (later Sir Charles) Wheatsone F.R.S./ later on found in servant's bedroom/ at 12 Victoria Square and given to G. 13. 13 J; Dr Bence Jones' inscription reads, Given to me by Mr Wheatsone/ Mr James South 1870/ Faraday 1841.
Rectangular, 141mm (5 9/16in) high
Provenance: Sir James South (1785–1867), Astronomer
Sir Charles Wheatstone (1802-1875), Inventor
Dr Henry Bence Jones (1813–1873), Physician

This lot can be compared with a portrait of Farady by Thomas Phillips painted circa 1841-2.

Faraday was apprenticed to a local bookbinder and educated himself by reading books on a wide range of scientific subjects. In 1812, Faraday attended four lectures given by the chemist Humphry Davy at the Royal Institution. Faraday subsequently wrote to Davy asking for a job as his assistant. Davy turned him down but in 1813 appointed him to the job of chemical assistant at the Royal Institution. In 1821 Faraday published his work on electromagnetic rotation (the principle behind the electric motor) and in 1831, he discovered electromagnetic induction, the principle behind the electric transformer and generator. During the remainder of the decade he worked on developing his ideas about electricity.