Anselme Payen

Anselme Payen, the French chemist who discovered the enzyme diastase, and the carbohydrate cellulose.


Original 19th century engraving.

George Washington

George Washington, in 1789. The original portrait, by Gilbert Stuart, was never finished, apart from the face, which was used to make several copies. Engraver Henry Wright Smith used it, around 1879, to make the engraving I've used here.


Engraving, c 1879, by Henry Wright Smith.


Gilbert Stuart's original 1789 painting.

William Shakespeare

"The Bard", William Shakespeare


19th Century engraving, taken from the original "Chandos" portrait.


The "Chandos" portrait, believed to have been painted from life between 1600 and 1610, probably by a painter called John Taylor.

Leonardo da Vinci

This drawing of Leonardo da Vinci, probably from around 1490, is sometimes touted as a self portrait, but this is unlikely. The only picture widely, though not universally, thought to be a self portrait is one in red chalk of Leonardo later in life.


Original drawing.

Sir George Grey

Another drawing, this time of Sir George Grey, in 1859, at which time he was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. He also served, at various times, as a Home Secretary.


Original engraving by William Holl Jr.

Karel Hynek Mácha

When I saw this drawing of the Czech romantic poet Karel Hynek Mácha, I was struck by how much it looked like a photograph, apart from the pencil lines. The artist, Jan Vilímek, wasn't even born until nearly a quarter of a century after Mácha died, so how accurate it is I don't know. Even so, it's a superb and natural looking portrait. Doubtless some purists will object to my reworking of this drawing, but I think it only emphasises how good the original was, and the original still exists, so nothing is lost.



Original drawing.