The history of the royal society of london, for the improving of natural. Wenceslaus hollar bohemian, prague 16071677 london artist. Thomas sprat vollansicht 1667 the history of the royal society of london. Thomas sprat sprat, thomas, 163517 a wikipedia article about this author is available sprat, thomas, 163517. Aarsleff, hans, thomas sprat, in dictionary of scientific biography. It is the oldest national scientific institution in the world. Frontispeice to thomas sprat s a history of the royal society 1667. This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of. An angel is shown placing a laurel wreath upon charless head. The history of the royal society elaborates the scientific purposes of the academy and outlines some of the. It was first published in 1667, with a magnificent frontispiece. Pdf the origins of the royal society revisited mordechai.
The history of the royal society of london, for the improving of natural knowledge. The history of the royalsociety of london for the improving of. A brief history of the royal society internet archive. Evidence from a parisian neighborhood under louis xiv.
Thomas sprats history of the royal society volume issue 1 p. Thomas sprat s history of the royal society, the british journal for the history of science, xiii 1980, 1 26, esp. This key piece of iconography for the early royal society includes central portraits of the first president, william, 2nd viscount brouncker 16201684 and francis bacon, 1st viscount st alban 15611626, with a bust of the society. The library and archives of the royal society marie. Central to thomas sprats history of the royal society was the description and justification of the method adopted and advocated by the fellows of the society, for it was thought that it was their method which distinguished them from ancients, dogmatists, sceptics, and contemporary natural philosophers such as descartes. The history of the royal society of london, for the improving of.
The history of the royalsociety of london internet archive. Frontispiece to thomas sprat, the history of the royal. A prose stylist, wit, and founding member and historian of the royal society, he is chiefly remembered for his influence on language reform and for his biography of the poet abraham cowley. Frontispiece to thomas sprat, the history of the royal society of london. The fellows saw themselves as furthering primarily a novel. Subsequent literary criticism generally focuses on the form of the history, most often its contributions to the modern english prose style. The royal society s establishment in 1660 signaled a new beginning for the rhetoric of science, mainly because the organizations founders advocated a modern plain style for scientific communication. In his history of the royal society of london 1667, a propagandist defense rather than a factual account of the new scientific society, he criticizes the inkhorn terms learned jargon and sonorous stylistic swellings of restoration prose. Association here operates akin to the early modern corporation as theorized by henry turner. Dr hall s fdn7rting account of the history of the library and archives of the society will be read with immense pleasure by fellows, historians of science and many others, and on behalf of the royal society, i. The history of the royalsociety of london, for the improving of natural.
Allestry,1667 guys hospital historical collection q41. Thomas sprat full view 1667 the history of the royal society of london. He married helen, the daughter of devereux wolseley of ravenstone, staffordshire and was the father of thomas sprat, archdeacon of rochester and fellow of the royal society. For instance, if you have read edward dolnicks popular history of the scientific revolution the clockwork universe. History of the royal society 1734 by thomas sprat front matter. The history of the royal society of london, for the improving of natural knowledge london.
The history of the royalsociety of london for the improving of natural knowledge by tho. Within other case, little men and women like to read book history of the royal society washington. Science versus rhetoric sprats history of the royal. Frontispiece to the history of the royal society of london, for the improving of natural knowledge, by thomas sprat printed by t.
By michael hunter, with a chapter on the instruments by jim bennett. The history of the royal society of london, for the improving of natural knowledge by tho. Isaac newton, the royal society, and the birth of the modern world p. Publication date 1667 topics royal society great britain, english poetry, intellectual life, science, great britain publisher. Religious conventions and science in the early restoration. Michael hunters latest book is part of this trend, devoted entirely to an analysis of the frontispiece of thomas sprat s history of the royal society 1667. Other articles where history of the royal society of london is discussed. The royal society, formally the royal society of london for improving natural knowledge, is a learned society and the united kingdoms national academy of sciences. In which i venture into original material, in the form of thomas sprat s history of the royal society of london, for the improving of natural knowledge. Download this artwork provided by the metropolitan museum of art. But my main goal here is to judge the quality of the reprint.
English bishop was a founding member and historian of the royal society. The history of the royal society of london, for the improving of natural knowledge by sprat, thomas, 163517. Andrade a brief history of the royal society the royal society 1960 acrobat 7 pdf 12. Allestry at the rose and crown in ducklane, printers to the royal society. The history of the royal society of london, for the.
He wrote a biography of his friend, the poet abraham cowley. Published in 1667, under the direction of the royal society which had first met in 1660, receiving their royal charter in 1662. Thomas sprat sprat, thomas, 163517 the online books. Notes to the royal society, a poem by abraham cowley. Samuel johnson, in celebrating the history of the royal society for its elegant writing, initiated a persistent trend to separate thomas sprat from the subject of his 1667 publication. This is a new release of the original 1667 edition. This key piece of iconography for the early royal society includes central portraits of the first president, william, 2nd viscount brouncker 16201684 and francis bacon, 1st viscount st alban 15611626, with a bust of the societys first patron, king charles ii. History of the royal society washington university studies. The royal society library now occupies very elegant reading rooms with offices. Epistle dedicatory let this book, intituled, the history of the royal society of london, for the improving of natural knowledge, be printed. Thomas sprat s history of the royal society london, 1667 is the most frequently cited work when it comes to describing the relationship between science and rhetoric in seventeenthcentury england.
Thomas sprat, in his propagandizing history of the royal society of london 1667, and with the needs of scientific discovery in mind, also advocated a close, naked natural way of speaking, positive expressions, clear senses, a native easiness. This book is about a single image the frontispiece to thomas sprat s history of the royal society of london 1667. The royal society, frontispiece to thomas sprat, the history of the royal society of london. Central to thomas sprat s history of the royal society was the description and justification of the method adopted and advocated by the fellows of the society, for it was thought that it was their method which distinguished them from ancients, dogmatists, sceptics, and contemporary natural philosophers such as descartes. This key piece of iconography for the early royal society includes central portraits of the first president, william, 2nd viscount brouncker 16201684 and francis bacon, 1st viscount st alban 15611626, with a bust of the society s. Inscriptions by phineas fowke on flyleaf of thomas sprat s the history of the royalsociety of london, for the improving of human knowledge. The metropolitan museum of art new york city, united states. The history of the royalsociety of london for the improving of natural. One of the founders of the royal society, sprat published this account in 1667, which was several years before newtons ascendance.
Charles ii, king of england british, london 16301685 london sitter. This is the premiere source for gaining an eyewitness account of the state of natural philosophy immediately before isaac newton. Whereas previous discussions have mostly centered on whether or not sprat rejects the rhetorical tradition, the present study investigates his manner of approaching past authorities. Thomas sprat 163517 the history of the royal society of. Rhetoric and the early royal society aims to initiate fresh debates about this watershed event in the history of rhetoric and science. Financial innovation and modern political culture women and the courts in the control of violence between men. Spratts history of the royalsociety kings collections.
For his work on the history of science he was elected a fellow of the royal society in 1663. Frontispiece to thomas sprats the history of the royal. This is not even a book about a single book, but a book about a single image belonging to a book, taking microhistory to a new order of magnification in bibliographical research. History of the royal society, by thomas sprat modern.
Sprat, thomas 1635 17, author of the history of the royal society of london, for the improving of natural knowledge 1667, an important document for those interested in baconianism, the nature and program of the early royal society, and the development of english prose style. Thomas sprat, frs 1635 20 may 17 was an english churchman, bishop of rochester. Pdf history of the royal society download full pdf. His history of the royal society of london 1667 is described as a propagandist defense rather than a factual account in the encyclopedia britannica. Walliss account of the two nearcontemporary accounts of the societys origins thomas sprats rendition in the history of the royal society and john walliss. The royal society is not only a concrete and historical subject about which sprat writes, but, as a voluntary association, the society also mediates sprat s writing. History of the royal society, by thomas sprat modern language. History of the royal society, by thomas sprat deepdyve. The history of the royal society of london for the improving of natural knowledge by tho.
History of the royal society of london work by sprat. The royal society, frontispiece to thomas sprat, the. University of washington history of the royal society, by thomas sprat. Thomas sprat, a protege of royal society fellow john wilkins, was chosen to write the work. After john evelyn british, 16201706 wotton, surrey author. Founded on 28 november 1660, it was granted a royal charter by king charles ii as the royal society. One of the founders of the royal society, sprat published this account in 1667, which was several years. Designed by john evelyn, and etched by wenceslaus hollar, it is arguably the bestknown representation of seventeenthcentury english science. History of the royal societychapter 1 wikisource, the. On the surface, it may appear extravagant or excessively antiquarian to devote a book, albeit. The frontispiece to thomas sprat s history of the royal society 1667. Publication date 1734 topics royal society great britain. The history of the royalsociety of london 1734 edition open.