Nov. 8,1851.] 
THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS. 
569 
FINE ARTS. 
Harvey Demonstrating to Charles the First his Theory of 
the Circulation of the Blood.-Painted by R. Hannah. Engraved 
by H. Lemon. Published by Lloyd, Brothers, and Co. 
Mr. Hannah's masterly picture of Harvey's great discovery (which 
picture we noticed at the time of its exhibition at the Royal Academy) has 
just been engraved in the highest style of line, by Mr. Henry Lemon: 
the size is important, 28 inches wide by 25 inches high, including a suit- 
able margim for framing; and the print, as our reduced copy of it shows, 
is a most impressive representation of this remarkable event in the 
history of natural science. The composition is handled with great 
breadth of light and shade, effects which are vividly rendered in the 
print. The picture is the property of Joseph Hodgson, Esq., F.R.C.S., 
of Westbourne-terrace, Hyde Park, who has most kindly and liberally 
lent it to the publishers for the purpose of engraving. 
This picture is of a very interesting class, and so far superior to the 
scenes of battle and carnage which too often formed the "furniture 
prints " of the last century, that, to explain more readily the incident 
before us, it may be permitted to recal some of the leading phases of 
Harvey's life. 
The date of the first promulgation of Harvey's doctrine of the " Cir- 
culation of the Blood" is not absolutely ascertained. At the age of 
thirty he was elected Fellow of the College of Physicians, and shortly 
after appointed physician to St Bartholomew's Hospital. On the 4th of 
August, 1615, he was chosen by the College to deliver the Lumleian 
lectures on Anatomy and Surgery; and, upon this occasion, is supposed 
to have first brought forward his views upon the circulation of the 
blood. It is commonly asserted that he first disclosed his opinions on 
the subject in 1619, after he had been lecturing four years. The Index, 
however, of his MS. in the British Museum, which contains the propo- 
sition whereon the doctrine is founded, refers them to April, 1616 ; yet, 
with patience and caution, peculiarly characteristic of the sound philo- 
sopher, he withheld his opinions from the world, until reiterated ex- 
periment had fully confirmed his system, and had enabled him to de- 
monstrate it in detail, and to advance every proof of its truth of which 
the subject is capable. It was not before he had attained his fiftieth 
year that Harvey's "Treatise on the Motion of the Heart and Blood," 
dedicated to Charles I., appeared. It was printed at Frankfort in 1628. 
Sometime before this the reputation of Harvey had recommended 
him to the notice of the Court, and he had been appointed physician 
extraordinary to James I. In 1632 he was made pliy^cian to his suc- 
cessor, Charles I.; and was in the habit of exhibit ing to him and the 
most enlightened persons of his Court the motion of the heart, and the 
other phenomena upon which his doctrines were founded. 
When the Civil War broke out, Harvey, who was attached to the 
King as well by his office as by gratitude and affection, followed the 
fortunes of his master; and, on his leaving London in consequence of 
increasing tumults, attended him, and was present at the battle of Edge- 
hill, in 1642. He related to a friend, that, on the day of the battle, he 
had charge of the two Princes (afterwards Charles II. and James II.). 
They sat under a hedge whilst the fight was going on; he took out 
Virgil (a copy of which he always carried with him) and began to read ; 
but he had not long pursued his studies before one of the princes drew 
his attention to a cannon-shot, which had torn up the ground near 
them. He then removed his charge to safer quarters. 
During their stay at Oxford, Harvey had abundant leisure to pursue 
his favourite studies, though under the disadvantage 'of having, at 
the beginning of the rebellion, when his lodgings at Whitehall were 
plundered, lost many valuable papers, containing notes of curious obser- 
vations on the dissection of animals; which loss he never ceased to 
lament, saying, "that for love or money he could never retrieve or obtain 
them." 
By his unfortunate Royal master, Harvey was always treated with re- 
gard and favour and the attachment to arts and sciences, which 
formed a conspicuous part of the King's character, contributed not a 
little to promote and encourage the pursuits of the philosopher. 
Charles's passion for stag-hunting enabled him abundantly to supply 
Harvey with animals for dissection; and the, King, with some of the 
noblest persons about the Court, werefrequent witnesses of the experiments. 
It is said, that after the death of Charles, Harvey travelled again into 
Italy ; but it is certain that he shortly after withdrew from the world 
and passed his time in retirement, in a house he possessed at Combe, in 
Surrey. Here he prepared for publication his second great work, " Ex- 
ercitations on the Generation of Animals," which had employed his 
time for nearly twenty years. His " Treatise on the Circulation of 
the Blood " cost him twenty-six years to bring to maturity. His dis- 
covery was ill received. Most persons opposed it; others said it was 
old; very few agreed with him. To an intimate friend he himself 
complained, that, after his book came out, he fell considerably in his 
practice; and it was believed by the vulgar that he was crack-brained; 
all the contemporary physicians were against his opinion, and envied 
him the fame he was likely to acquire. That reputation he did at last 
enjoy: about twenty-five years after the publication of his system, it 
was received in all the Universities of the world; and Hobbes has ob- 
served that " Harvey was the only man, perhaps, that ever lived to see 
his own doctrines established in his life-time." 
He died in 1657, and was buried on the 26th of June of that year. All 
the Fellows of the College of Physicians attended his funeral, and one 
who was present states that he lies buried in a vault at Hampsted, Essex 
He is lapt in lead, and on his breast, in large letters, was to be read- 
" Dr. William Harvey." 
The scene ef the picture is Harvey's apartment in the palace. The 
King is seated in the foreground. The courtier who stands behind him, 
with his hand familiarly resting on the back of the chair, indicates the 
attachment and devotion of the cavaliers to the King. The close proxi- 
mity of the young Prince to the philosopher indicates the gentle charac- 
ter of the man, and the inoffensiveness of the operation. The Prince has 
FINE ARTS.-"HARVEY DEMONSTRATING TO CHARLES I. HIS THEORY OF THE CIRCULATION OF THE BLOOD."-PAINTED BY R. HANNAH. 
Buspemled the jeiusal of !Hovey's favourite author for the greater ex- 
citement of his friend and t utor's demonstration. The exti erne fondness 
for anatomical studies which in after-life characterised both Charles II. 
and James II. is thus explained. 
The courtier behind is permitting himself to be entertained by some 
of Harvey's opponents. These are incarnations of pedantic bigotry and 
stolid imbecility-the two great opponents of scientific progress-who 
by insult and obloquy, show their hatred of him who dares, by assert- 
ing truth, unsettle their long-cherished absurdities ; and few men have 
felt this truth more keenly than the immortal Harvey. 
The artist has taken great pains to preserve the likeness of Har- 
vey, and was guided by his excellent portrait by Cornelius Jansen, in 
the College of Physicians, the authorities of which most kindly placed 
that and all that the college contained concerning Harvey at his 
disposal.