Title: Portrait of Sir Joseph Prestwich

Creator: Unknown

Description: Painting of Sir Joseph Prestwich. Elected a Fellow of the Geological Society on 15 May 1833 (no.974), and served as President between 1870-1872. Awarded the Wollaston medal in 1849.

Joseph Prestwich, the son of a wine merchant, was educated at University College London and spent 40 years in the family business before accepting the Chair of Geology at Oxford University (1874-1888).

Prestwich produced six books and well over 100 papers. He worked on the Quaternary of England, Belgium and France, and on the Tertiary of South East England, where he established the stratigraphy of the clays of the London Basin. He was knighted in 1896.

The painting was presented to the Geological Society by Lady Prestwich in 1897.

Date: [?1896-1897]

Format: Oil painting in gilt frame, 122 x 95 cm

Archive reference: GSL/POR/13

Image reference: 01-14

Recommended print size: Up to 16 x 12 inches (40 x 30cm)