Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London - University Library

LINNKAX SOCItXV OF IA)M>()X. 67
from Eoslin and from ilie engi-aviii^s after Elirensverd whicli
appeared iu some of Linne's works. The mysterious mass of paint
making the portrait appear as if springing out of a cloud, was
prohably suggested by the academic gown which appears in these
engravings.
Tlie small portrait by Hallman, presented to the Society by its
former President, Lord Avebury, is a more creditable work. It
seems to be influenced more by Koslin than by Krafft.
What appears to me to be a portrait based on the signed
painting by Hallman at Hammarby is in the possession of Prof.
TuUberg, Upsala. It has no history and the painter is unknown.
The artist has tried to get rid of the poor work of Hallman, and
h-is produced a more intellectual looking face, but the features are
not those one is familiar with in the authoritative portraits by
Scheffel, Inlander, Ivrafft, and Eoslin. The face is shorter and
broader than that of Liuue, and the nose is too much improved.
The cloud-like gown is also introduced.
Prof. Tullberg has a small water-colour portrait which has much
in coMunon with his large portrait. It was " delin. 1747 " by
X. P. PetriBus, but it represents a much older man than Linne in
his fortieth year.
X. 1775. EosLiN.
The best known portrait of Linne is that painted by Alexander
Roslin in 1775. Boslin was a Swede, born iu 1718. He studied
in Germany and Italy, and settled in Paris iu 1752. He visited
Sweden in 1774-75, when he painted portraits of the Royal family
and also one of Linne. He died iu 1703, being 60 years old.
The portrait of Linne was taken to Paris to finish, and was there
engraved by Bervie, under the superintendence of Eoslin, at the
expense of the Stockholm A;\T.demy. The painting was presented
by the artist to the Academy in 1779. It is not quite a halflength.
The face is turned a little to the left and the eyes look
on the spectator. The principal wart is shown on the right cheek
on a line with the mouth. The queue of the wig rests on the
right shoulder. The lower arm of the cross of the Polar Star has
the extremity cut off, and the Linncpa rises from the button-hole
which carries the ribbon of the cross.
The face was not reversed in Bervie's engraving, but the dress
was modified to retain the cross of the Polar Star and the Linncea
on the left side.
lioslin painted a replica v.-hich he presented to the \\ido\v of
Linne, who sold it to King Gustaf III., and it was placed by him
in the Castle of Gripsholm, where it still remains. I had obtained
a photograph of this portrait, which showed it to be an oval. This
however is the work of the photographer ; the painting in size and
in every way agrees with that in tlie possession of the Academy.
On the back of the canvas is written " Carol, v. Linne. natus 1707
Maij 13. delineavit 1775."