Portrait of Sir William Crookes (1832-1919) mb-code DCA_115590 Shown perched on a low

Shown perched on a low tree branch

a wholesale clothier and woollen merchant

there's the rub

The new Ballot Bill had recently been passed into law and here Britannia drops a slight curtsey to the lanky figure of the Ballot

Portrait of Sir William Crookes (1832-1919) mb-code DCA_115590 Shown perched on a lowCrookes is posed seated in high backed chair, half length, holding what may be an early form of cathode ray tube in his left hand. The subject is shown half face. Behind, in a freely painted backdrop to the main subject, are a diamond vane radiometer upper right and a bookcase in the lower left of the painting. Crookes bearded and dressed formally, dark suit and wing collar, with a watch chain visible at the waistcoat. Sir William was elected a Fellow