- #1
jonjacson
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I ask because each painting seems to represent a different person.
This is the death mask:
What painting do you think is closer to the death mask?
What was Isaac Newton's real face?
- Thread starter jonjacson
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the various representations of Isaac Newton's face in paintings and how they compare to his death mask. Participants explore the differences in these depictions, including aspects of age and weight, and question the authenticity of certain features.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory, Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- One participant notes that each painting seems to represent a different person, prompting a comparison with the death mask.
- Another participant points out that differences in appearance could be attributed to age and weight, suggesting a need to date the paintings and arrange them chronologically.
- A participant expresses uncertainty about the identity of the paintings, mentioning that they lack information on dating them.
- Some participants comment on Newton's hair, with one stating it is "legendary" and another noting that some depictions may feature wigs typical of the era.
- One participant claims that the nose in the first painting matches the death mask best, while suggesting that other paintings may be less distinctive in that regard.
- Another participant mistakenly identifies one of the paintings as John Newton, indicating confusion over the names and identities in historical texts.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express differing views on which painting best represents Newton, and there is no consensus on the dating of the paintings or the authenticity of the features depicted.
Contextual Notes
Limitations include the lack of specific dating for the paintings and the potential for misidentification of figures in historical representations.
I ask because each painting seems to represent a different person.
This is the death mask:
What painting do you think is closer to the death mask?
- #2
Frabjous
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Some differences are obviously age and weight related. Can you date the paintings and place in order?
- #3
jonjacson
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caz said:
I don't have that information.
- #4
BillTre
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Don't know about his face, but his hair is legendary, according to some.
- #5
Frabjous
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The nose in the first matches the death mask best, but those two seem less distinctive nasally than the rest.
Last edited:
- #6
epenguin
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But it isn't necessarily his, fairly obviously in some of the pics it is a wig, as was usual in his times.BillTre said:
- #7
mjc123
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I think the first is John Newton (author of Amazing Grace). As far as I know Isaac was never a clergyman. I and J are sometimes used interchangeably in old books (e.g. Iulius Caesar in the First Folio).
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