James Bradley, Astronomer Royal (circa 1692-1762) by Thomas Hudson

James Bradley, Astronomer Royal (circa 1692-1762)

Thomas Hudson

Fine art poster

More products…
  • Amazing giclée print quality
  • 240gsm thick fine art print paper
  • 100+ year colour guarantee
  • Dimensions:
    • by cm including border ( by in)
    • by cm excluding border ( by in)
£22.95

Image information

Time and space
Part of the Time and space Collection
Add to wishlist
Close

James Bradley, Astronomer Royal (circa 1692-1762)

Jacobus Bradley, S.T.P. Regalis Societatis Socius Astronomus Regius et apud Oxonienses Astronomiae Professor Savilianus'. In 1742 Bradley was appointed Astronomer Royal. Bradley had studied theology at Balliol College, Oxford between 1711-1714. He later worked with Molyneux at Molyneux's private Observatory in Kew, where observations of the apparent displacement of Gamma Draconis led him to discover aberration. Between 1727 and 1748 he made observations of the Moon, from which he discovered nutation. He also studied Jupiter, specifically its diameter and the eclipses of its satellites. Between 1748 and 1762 he made more than 60,000 observations. As Astronomer Royal, Bradley in 1750 established a new Greenwich meridian for altitude observations, slightly east of and replacing those of Flamsteed and Halley. This became the longitudinal baseline of the original Ordnance Survey of Britain later in the century. After Airy's meridian some 19 feet further east was establishd in 1851, and in 1884 became Longitude 0 degrees for the world, the discrepancy was noticed but judged to small to warrant cartographic adjustments for land use. Bradley's meridian is therefore still the basis of British land maps. This portrait by Hudson (of which the original oil of 1742-1747 belongs to the Royal Society) was re-engraved several times. A steelplate version appears, for example with Bradley's biography, in Charles Knight's seven volume 'Gallery of Portraits' (1836).
Thomas Hudson (artist)

Original size: 366 mm x 258 mm

  • Image reference: PW3410

Discover more

More by this artist

Thomas Hudson

Explore the collections

Search for similar images

Our prints

We use a 240gsm fine art paper and premium branded inks to create the perfect reproduction.

Our expertise and use of high-quality materials means that our print colours are independently verified to last between 100 and 200 years.

Read more about our fine art prints.

Manufactured in the UK

All products are printed in the UK, using the latest digital presses and a giclée printmaking process.

We only use premium branded inks, and colours are independently verified to last between 100 and 200 years.

Delivery & returns

We print everything to order so delivery times may vary but all unframed prints are despatched within 2-4 days via courier or recorded mail.

Due to the coronovirus pandemic and Brexit situation, current shipping times may be longer, particularly for destinations outside the UK.

Delivery to the UK is £5 for an unframed print of any size.

We will happily replace your order if everything isn’t 100% perfect.