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'Elias Ashmole', c.1681
by J. Riley
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In 1683 Elias Ashmole founded
the Ashmolean Museum, the earliest public museum
in England. He gave, his own collection of coins
and furniture together with the rarities collected
by the Tradescants to the University, on condition
that a building was constructed to display them.
These rarities had been collected during the Tradescants
plant hunting travels for the royal palaces. He
catalogued this Tradescant Collection, which will
be displayed again when the new Antiquities Galleries
open in 2009.
Ashmole may have commissioned this grand and imposing
portrait to mark the occasion of the opening ceremony
of the Museum on 21 May 1683 by the future King
James II. The first Ashmolean Museum was in Broad
Street, now The Museum of the History of Science.
Ashmole stands in a proud pose, dressed in elegant
clothes of velvet, lace and silk. His wig and lace
cravat are typical of the time. He leans on a copy
of the book he wrote about the Order of the Garter
and some of his beloved medals and chains are also
shown. He wears one of the many chains that were
given to him by members of the Order.
His stance and the objects with which he is portrayed
all serve to show Ashmole as an accomplished, proud
and successful gentleman. Ashmole was a lawyer and
scientist, studying alchemy and astrology and was
a founder member of the Royal Society.
John Riley, the artist, was a prolific portrait
painter who later became one of the principal court
painters to William and Mary. The elaborately carved
lime-wood frame by Grinling Gibbons, incorporates
some of the new species of vegetables, fruits and
flowers, which John Tradescant and his son both
royal gardeners, bought back from their travels
abroad.
Ashmole’s crest which includes Mercury, marks
his interest in alchemy and can be seen at the top
of the painting,
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© Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.
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