Paris, J. [L.] Boilly, 1821. Engraved broadsheet (36.3 x 27.3 cm).

A rarely-seen portrait of the French mathematician Siméon Denis Poisson (1781-1840). Poisson '...worked on statistics, complex analysis, partial differential equations, the calculus of variations, analytical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, elasticity, and fluid mechanics. Moreover, he predicted the Poisson spot in his attempt to disprove the wave theory of Augustin-Jean Fresnel, which was later confirmed. As a teacher of mathematics Poisson is said to have been extraordinarily successful, as might have been expected from his early promise as a répétiteur at the École Polytechnique. As a scientific worker, his productivity has rarely if ever been equalled. Notwithstanding his many official duties, he found time to publish more than three hundred works, several of them extensive treatises, and many of them memoirs dealing with the most abstruse branches of pure mathematics, applied mathematics, mathematical physics, and rational mechanics. (Arago attributed to him the quote, "Life is good for only two things: doing mathematics and teaching it")' (Wikipedia). The artist, Julien-Léopold Boilly (1796-1874) was noted for his album of lithographs, Iconographie de l'Institut royal de France ou collection des portraits des Membres composant les quatre académies depuis 1814 jusqu'en 1825 (1820-1825). His portraits are much less stiff and formal than many by his contemporaries. Signed by the artist in the lower margin of the portrait and dated 1821. The caption states the date of Poisson's birth and the year (1812) in which he was elected as a member of the Institut. Uncut. With in the lower right corner a small, oval blind-stamp, "Galerie Vivienne Bénard". Scattered, very mild foxing; a few weak marginal creases; otherwise very good.