Thomas Dick

This is an engraved portrait of a man with a planetarium and other astronomical instruments, holding a quill pen. He can be identified as Thomas Dick (1774–1857), a natural philosopher and writer on science, as his popular book, 'Celestial Scenery', published by Thomas Ward & Co. (1838) is shown on a table. Dick's works were suffused with natural theology, assuring readers of the compatibility of science with religion. He was also a believer in the plurality of worlds. This engraving is based loosely on a portrait by an unknown artist at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and a similar image was used to accompany an edition of his Complete Works in 1850.